Washington Sundar Exclusive Interview: ‘Gauti (Gautam Gambhir) bhai has helped me understand my potential’ | Cricket News

Washington Sundar has played just one game for Gujarat Titans this season and made instant impact with the bat (PTI)

New Delhi:Washington Sundar‘s ability to bat anywhere and bowl in different stages of the game make him a valuable asset for any captain. The 25-year-old, a left-handed batter and off-spinner, is the kind of player who can make an impact with both bat and ball; one who can seamlessly float in the batting order.
His spin can be utilised at various stages of the innings, as he has shown in his brief career, even operating with the new ball in powerplay overs. But despite being an all-format cricketer, the 25-year-old has been starved of consistent game time, both at the international level and in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In a free-wheeling chat with TimesofIndia.com, the all-rounder shared his thoughts on the Impact Player rule, how he maintains his routine and rhythm despite limited opportunities, and the importance of the backing he has received from coach Gautam Gambhir.
Excerpts:
Is there any rule you want to get rid of in the IPL? I can give you a hint: it starts with an I…
You really have to ask the audience because I’m part of the team. I don’t think I have any control over changing any of the rules, nor would I even consider doing anything like that. So, the audience will give you better answers and definitely a lot more entertainment.

You generally don’t get much game time, whether with the Indian team or in the IPL. How difficult is it to keep that rhythm going?
It’s not too difficult, honestly, because we get to practice every single day. We get to do what we want and work on different aspects of the game. So, finding the rhythm and staying on top of the game is within my control. If I give 100 percent in every single session, then I will find the best rhythm and the best belief system. It’s all about the purpose I bring to each practice session.

Team India coach Gautam Gambhir has backed you a lot. How important is that to a player?
It makes a massive difference, honestly. Gauti bhai has helped me understand my potential and how to approach my game in different situations. It’s been a massive learning experience being under him. It definitely makes a huge difference to understand yourself and your own skill sets. That way, your graph is just going up, and you’re gaining more perspectives about yourself from the people around him. I’ve learned a lot about myself in the last few months.
Similarly, at GT, you’re working with Ashish Nehra.
I’ve known him for quite a few years. We worked together at RCB as well. So, I knew what to expect from him and the GT culture. He believes a lot in adapting to situations and reading the conditions as early as possible. We’ve been doing that really well as a team this season. He believes in putting in enough work in preparation. I think that has really worked for all of us, no matter if you’re youngsters or senior players.
Overall, GT is a new setup for you, a new franchise. How has the experience been so far?
I spoke to my friends (Sai Sudharsan and Sai Kishore) about GT before joining. Honestly, we get to practice a lot. We get to put in a lot of volume in terms of improving every skill set. If you have a specific purpose in mind and are working on improving any aspect of the game, it’s bound to happen, and you’re bound to find your best rhythm and the magic you’re looking for.
Are you working on adding a new element to your bowling? Any mystery (carrom) ball?
It’s definitely exciting and fun to try new deliveries, especially those you can bowl without changing your natural technique too much. I’ve been doing that in the last year and a half. At the end of the day, bowling is something you need to enjoy, regardless of the format. The more you enjoy and the more work you put in, the better you’ll get, and you’ll see more magic on the field.
IPL matches are being played on pitches which have favoured batters. How difficult is it for a traditional off-spinner like you?
Even for fast bowlers, there are many times when there’s not much assistance at all. Apart from the first two overs, there’s not much for fast bowlers. It’s about how they adapt to those situations and get the best out of themselves in challenging conditions that will make them stand out. It’s all about how you work on and think about your game.
Your pull shots and no-look shots look so effortless and you play them without losing your shape. Has it always been natural?
I started facing medium pacers and fast bowlers very early in my career. That definitely helped. I remember going to MRF Pace Foundation and batting against fast bowlers from the age of 13. Over the years, I’ve understood how to face speed and what shots I can be good at and keep improving on, especially against fast bowlers. It’s also about understanding my game, and those shots come quite naturally to me. Plus, I prepare for those shots daily and keep improving.
You started your career as a top-order batter. What’s your preferred batting position?
It’s definitely fun to bat at the top because you get more balls and more opportunities to score big runs. But it’s also exciting to go in when the team needs you to perform at your best and win the game. It’s all about trying to win the game for the team, no matter the situation. But at the same time, it’s so much fun to bat at the top and face swing, speed, and quality spin. Trying to maximise my abilities in those situations definitely makes me happy.