Washington Sundar has emerged as India’s go-to all-rounder across formats of the game. After making his comeback into the team in Tests in the series against New Zealand in 2024, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder has been a part of the Men in Blue across formats of the game. While he has played in multiple Tests and ODIs, Sundar has had limited opportunities when it comes to the shortest format of the game. But the biggest plus for Washington is his ability to fulfill whatever role that the team requires him to do, in both batting and bowling.
Where will Washington Sundar fit in India’s T20I setup?
Sundar wasn’t a preferred choice for India in the T20 World Cup 2026. He featured in just two games – against the Netherlands, where he did not bat but registered figures of 0/36 in 4 overs, and against South Africa in the Super 8 clash, where he scored 11 runs and registered figures of 0/17 in 2 overs. Washington may have been underutilized by the Indian side in the T20 WC, but he has shown his worth and has been quite flexible as per the needs of the team.
On countless occasions, we have seen Sundar stepping up, with both bat and ball, across formats of the game and deliver on expectations, especially in Tests. In Washington, India have found a reliable and budding all-rounder, who might as well be Axar Patel’s successor in the future, although the latter has a lot of potential left.
In 2025, Sundar managed to pick up 4 wickets from 6 matches, averaging 14.25 at an economy rate of 7.77. In 2026, he has’t picked up any wickets in T20Is but conceded 53 runs in the two matches that he has played. When it comes to batting, Sundar has 93 runs to his name from 6 T20Is in 2025 and 11 runs from 2 matches in 2026.
But the highlight of Sundar’s surge in the recent past has been his ability to bounce back from a rib injury that he sustained during the IND vs NZ series that preceded the T20 World Cup and still be available for selection and become a go-to choice for the team management when in need. No doubt, India had preferred Axar Patel over him throughout the tournament and picked a playing XI based on conditions. Sundar is here to stay in the Indian team. His ability to be flexible with where he bats at or how many overs he bowls and the impact he can create is the biggest strength for Team India.
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