Washington Sundar bowling: Watch Sundar dismisses Steve Smith to pick maiden Test wicket at the Gabba

Washington Sundar dismisses Steve Smith: The debutant spinner made his presence felt after dismissing the opposition’s premier batsman.

During the first day of the fourth Test of the ongoing India’s tour of Australia in Brisbane, India all-rounder Washington Sundar made an interesting start to his Test debut by dismissing Australia batsman Steve Smith.

Sundar, who was accompanying the Test squad as a net bowler, was handed a debut at the Gabba today after injuries to multiple first-choice players. It was India’s desire to strengthen their batting unit which forced them to pick Sundar ahead of a specialist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav.

Having started with three maiden overs on the trot, Sundar sent back Smith on the first delivery of his fourth over. In what a regular delivery on the pads, it was a tight on-side field setting which accounted for Smith’s dismissal.

Wanting to flick an ordinary delivery, Smith was gutted after he hit it straight to India vice-captain Rohit Sharma at short mid-wicket. After stitching a 70-run partnership alongside Marnus Labuschagne, Smith ended up scoring 36 (77) with the help of five fours.

Sundar, who made his debut alongside Tamil Nadu teammate T. Natarajan, had earlier grabbed a straightforward catch at square leg to dismiss Marcus Harris (5) in the first session.

Washington Sundar dismisses Steve Smith

Can you believe it, Smith chips it straight to Rohit Sharma and Washington Sundar has his first Test wicket! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/1XEEBpLrRB

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 15, 2021

How Twitterati reacted:

Smart field placing by Rahane, another excellent catch by Rohit and Sundar has Smith as his first Test victim. Big blow for the Aussies losing their mainstay. Trend of play has swung India’s way again. Pressure piling up on the batsmen

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 15, 2021

First test wicket Steve Smith. @Sundarwashi5 living his dream and what can be better for a young man. India very much in this.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 15, 2021

Washington – Youuuu Sundarrrr ( err Beauty) #IndvAus

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) January 15, 2021

Waking up in the morning to see these two boys @Natarajan_91 and @Sundarwashi5 play TEST cricket has been the only positive of having COVID 19

— DK (@DineshKarthik) January 15, 2021

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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