Indian cricketer Washington Sundar may be winning fans with his performances but his father Mr. Mani Sundar is far from pleased with how the young all-rounder has been treated by Indian selectors. He recently spoke out, expressing disappointment over what he sees as a pattern of bias and favouritism that has unfairly limited Washington Sundar’s chances, despite consistent performances.
The comments come in the aftermath of Washington’s heroic unbeaten century at Old Trafford. Stepping in after two key wickets, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill had fallen, and with India facing a possible innings defeat on the final day, he held firm alongside Ravindra Jadeja. His 101 not out off 206 balls helped build a 203-run unbeaten partnership that ultimately forced a draw against England. The innings stood as a testament to both skill and temperament.
Despite such displays, Mr. Mani Sundar feels his son is regularly ignored. He stated in an interview that while other players are given multiple opportunities to cement their places, Washington is dropped quickly, even after good outings. He believes Washington should consistently bat at number five, just like in the second innings of the fourth Test, and be allowed five to ten matches in a row to prove himself properly.
Recalling previous innings, he mentioned Washington’s unbeaten 85 on a tough turning pitch in Chennai in 2021 and his 96* in Ahmedabad later that same year, both against England. According to Mr. Sundar, even had those knocks been centuries, his son would still have been dropped. He questioned whether any other Indian cricketer has been treated this way and said that Washington’s current strong form is a result of the mental toughness he has developed through this unfair treatment.
Although Washington was not picked for the first Test of the recent series, he featured in the next three. While his batting in the first two was below expectations, his bowling, especially the four-wicket haul at Lord’s in the third match, was a highlight.
Mr. Sundar also criticised Gujarat Titans, Washington’s IPL team, for similar inconsistencies. Despite playing only six out of 15 matches, Washington made a big impact in the 2025 IPL Eliminator against Mumbai Indians, scoring a blistering 48 off just 24 balls. Mr. Sundar contrasted this with the kind of backing other young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal have received, pointing out that Washington has not enjoyed such consistency, even in domestic cricket.
Through his father’s words, it is clear that while Washington Sundar has managed to shine on the field, the battle off the field, for opportunities and recognition, is ongoing.
