Washington Sundar has been at the forefront of RCB’s success this IPL season. Though he hasn’t made headlines like his AB de Villiers teammates Virat Kohli or Devdutt Padikkal, the off-road all-rounder has played phenomenally well. In the seven games he’s played for RCB, Sundar may have won just five wickets, but here’s the big number. His economy rate has remained below five: 4.9 to be precise and the most he has conceded in his four out of 20.
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While a lot of credit is credited to his captain Virat Kohli for making Washington Sundar sneak into the Powerplay and smothering the scoring rate, the secondary player credits his true success to former India captain and current Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni. , for his evolution as a bowler. . It was in 2017 that Sundar played with Dhoni for the Rising Pune Supergiant, collecting eight wickets from 11 matches – an experience the off-spinner greatly appreciates.
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“The fact that I played in RPS with Mahi bhai helped me evolve as a cricketer and since then I have been learning and evolving as a bowler as well,” Sundar ahead of RCB’s game against Kings XI Punjab on Thursday.
On the technical side, Sundar, who is six feet tall, revealed that there are two things he has focused on the most this season: throwing the ball and how to use his height to get a big advantage.
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“Releasing the ball late is the key. If you follow the feet of a batter, you will get a little clue as to what he intends to do. And if you can get the hint, it will help you do what he doesn’t want you to do. I am very conscious of releasing the ball as late as possible. That way I can react to what the hitter is doing, ”Sundar said.
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“Definitely (the height) is a positive thing. If at that height, I can use it correctly with speed, it will be an advantage and that is what I have been trying to work on for the last few years. I have worked hard knowing that my height will give me an advantage if I use it to the fullest. I have to keep up. “
Sundar explained how he revels in the confidence his boss Kohli has shown in him and, in addition to bowling, the 21-year-old is eager to excel with the bat. Not many know that Sundar has scored a century opening batting for Tamil Nadu, so don’t be surprised if he starts to win games with the bat.
“I’m glad that Virat has shown so much confidence in me and has thrown balls at me during Powerplay and other crucial moments in the game. For a spinner, the captain’s confidence is extremely important, ”explained Sundar. “I think from a hitter’s point of view while I’m bowling that has kept me going and guessing. I would love to win a game for RCB with the bat. I’ve been concentrating on my hitting. When opportunities arise, you should be able to step up and act. “
A good IPL season can solidify Sundar’s chances of landing a longer rope with the Indian cricket team. The spinner appeared in two T20Is against New Zealand earlier this year and one against Sri Lanka before that. Although playing for the national team is not what he has in mind, Sundar would definitely want to extend his India matches, which are currently 23 T20I and a one-day international.
“Obviously the dream is to play for India in all formats. I’ve been working hard at my bowling, hitting and fielding, ”Sundar said.
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