London (UK), July 14, 2025 (ANI): Washington Sundar addressed press after master class of spin on 4th day at Lord’s in the 4th test between India and England.
00:00Ideal situation to be in, you've lost four wickets, but one of that was a night watchman.
00:07I mean, we want so many things the way we expect it to be, but yes, we'll take it any day.
00:14I mean, we'll really come out positive tomorrow.
00:17We've got some solid batsmen in the dressing room, and yeah, it's exciting in every way.
00:22You know, winning a test in lots is going to be amazing, so I think we're sitting pretty.
00:30Vashi, congratulations.
00:34Best day for you as a bowler, especially overseas, in overseas performance, if you consider overseas performance,
00:40is this the best day for you as a bowler?
00:42And can you talk us through that, what specific things you are doing there, because those were some really good wickets.
00:48I mean, definitely one of the best days with the ball for me, especially outside of India, but yes, definitely had some solid plans coming into this test match
00:58and really wanted to execute them, both in first and second innings.
01:01Honestly, I wanted to contribute to the team quite differently in different passages of play,
01:07but yes, the way it turned out to be for me, as well as the team the whole day today, is really good and very heartening for me.
01:14Vashi, the team, when they got you into the 11, they said they wanted runs from you at 8 and then play a restrictive role with the bowl as a spinner.
01:25But as an individual who wants to, must have aspirations to do greater things, so how do you go about it?
01:33When do you think that you have to move to an attacking line as a bowler or maybe carry or take the attack with the bat also?
01:42I mean, this is a team game and we got to do, as players, we got to do everything the team needs and end of the day, as long as the team wins,
01:51that's all it takes and that's all it matters as well.
01:53And yes, there are different roles thrown at me in different passages of play.
01:59I would say that's where test cricket gets a lot more exciting because you've got to be a slightly different cricketer,
02:05at least with your mindset on day five compared to on day one.
02:10So, I think it's been going pretty well for me.
02:16Vashi, coming here, what did you expect from just from a bowling point of view for an off-spinner,
02:21did you expect any help?
02:22Are you surprised at how things have panned out in the two games that you've played?
02:27Just from a bowling perspective?
02:28In lots.
02:29Last game and here.
02:30I mean, I would say both games are quite different.
02:35I mean, the venues were quite different.
02:37In lots, I was thinking there wouldn't be a lot of bounds, especially looking at the game that happened a couple of weeks ago,
02:45the World Test Championship Finals.
02:46So, the probability of ball hitting the stumps, especially of good lengths, is a lot more compared to the last two venues that we've played.
02:55So, according to that, there were some plans.
02:58And yes, I think all of us bowled really well, especially the fast bowlers, they bowled their heart out on day four.
03:04So, after having bowled a lot of overs in the first things, they still came out with their heart and bowled really well consistently.
03:13Vashi, whatever the 130 odd runs that is still needed, what, according to you, will be the best approach to, you know, for that, to go for it?
03:23I mean, looking at the conditions, the way pitch behaved, it's just in the last half an hour, it's suddenly waked up.
03:30So, tomorrow morning, maybe you guys will definitely take the roller.
03:33So, what will be the best way to approach this?
03:35I mean, test cricket, there's nothing called the best approach because you've got to be slightly different when it's required of you.
03:44And we'll just assess however it is tomorrow in the morning and just play to the situation and play to the merit.
03:51And we know it's all going to go really well for us.
03:57Washington, the wicket of Jamie Smith, your skill is very subtle changes in flight and turn and all.
04:05If you can just explain that, how was it possible to get him clean board?
04:09I mean, God was very kind, definitely need to say that.
04:11But yeah, I mean, he was a very important wicket for us considering the amount of runs he's already scored in this series.
04:17But yes, yes, I mean, the ball did come out really well of my hand, especially that ball.
04:26So, I think it was important for me to hit the right areas consistently.
04:30I think I was able to do that today.
04:31Washi, we all kind of look forward to what is tomorrow, visualize what tomorrow will be.
04:40Are you looking forward to being in the middle and scoring the runs and being in the spotlight?
04:46Or are you hoping that you have feet up and you win by six wickets or something?
04:51I mean, I'd say as long as we win the game, I think nothing else would matter.
04:56A win as a team in Lourdes would be very, very special for us.
05:00And I'm sure for you guys as well, India winning the Lourdes test would be amazing.
05:04Personally, are you looking forward to the day tomorrow in every way?
05:08Yeah.
05:11Washi, you just spoke about your bowling here at Lourdes.
05:14How much did the slope come handy for you from the end you were bowling at?
05:19I mean, honestly, obviously this is my first game in Lourdes and I didn't really think too much about it.
05:25And I was thinking it wouldn't really do much for spinners.
05:28But yes, I mean, my plans weren't really based on the slope.
05:33So I wasn't honestly thinking about it.
05:35But the way it turned out for me, I mean, Lourdes definitely is very kind to me so far in the test match.
05:42Washi, the late call-up during the home season last year into the test squad,
05:46then doing what you did when other senior spinners were already there in the squad.
05:50And now the kind of support you have had from the coach, it's not a secret anymore.
05:54So how does that help you that, you know, you are considered as an insurance with the bat and ball?
05:58And you continue to make those contributions.
06:00So as a player, how much does that backing help?
06:03And what are the kind of conversations you have with the coach in the background?
06:07I mean, it definitely helps.
06:08And also the fact that the things that come to me, the information that's been,
06:13that's passed on to me in various situations of the game and even in different venues,
06:19important, I mean, do mean a lot important as well.
06:23Because obviously some of the venues require you to be a little different.
06:29And when the information is passed on to me, it generally means a lot.
06:34Because obviously Gauti Bhai has played a lot of test cricket and has got so much experience.
06:39And even seniors like KL Rahul, Bhumrah, they keep talking to all of us.
06:45And they make sure we are aware as to what exactly needs to be done in different scenarios in the game.
06:53So that way it definitely means a lot.
06:56And yes, as I said, as long as the team is doing well and I'm contributing to the team's success,
07:02it's amazing.
07:04A few years ago in Gabba, Gabba you played a critical role.
07:19Obviously there is less number of runs tomorrow, but how much would you look on that experience
07:25and do you think that experience will have a role tomorrow?
07:29Definitely every experience would help for me to be out there.
07:32And bring out my best version of myself tomorrow.
07:38But yes, I mean, we're all looking forward and it's going to be great.
07:43Awashi, can you just tell us how fired up you guys were this morning?
07:46And do you expect England to bring a similar kind of energy tomorrow?
07:50Definitely.
07:50I mean, test cricket, no matter the situation, I mean, we're all expected to put in 100% every single day.
07:57No matter what the results look like or even the scoreboard looks like.
08:02So, yes, it's going to be exciting tomorrow.
08:05I mean, especially the last 15-20 minutes was quite interesting today.
08:09So, yeah.
08:11Washington, yeah.
08:13Now, as a spinning batting all-rounder, when such performance of the ball come in,
08:18like such brilliant performance come in, how much confidence does it give to you?
08:21It definitely raises my confidence levels and especially to perform in England, it means a lot.
08:28And it genuinely makes me believe how much of an asset and how much I could actually perform for the team in these conditions as well.
08:38So, it definitely means a lot.
08:39Thanks.
08:41Hi.
08:41The last five minutes or so yesterday seemed to change the energy of the game in a way, bring some aggression into it in a good way.
08:50How much did that change the atmosphere in your dressing room and the motivation?
08:55I mean, I would say the aggression is always inside of us in both dressing rooms, I would say.
09:00But it's just that there was an incident that happened and it sort of came out as well last evening.
09:07And it did come out quite a bit today as well.
09:09So, yeah, I mean, it's all the more interesting for all of us to look forward to tomorrow.
09:16And do you think having that energy in you improves your performances at all?
09:21It definitely does.
09:22I mean, it's a sport and everybody, everyone is quite aggressive and quite intense in their own ways.
09:29I mean, no matter the sport, if you're an athlete, it's a common fact, I'd say.
