BENGALURU: When T20 cricket first took the world by storm, it drew a sorry picture for bowlers. The format was designed for entertainment: lots of fours and sixes. It pushed bowlers to add variety to their offerings, and absorb pressure like a sponge during matches. The format has also put captains on their toes, trying different avenues: opening the innings with spinners being one.
Washington Sundar has been one of the prime examples, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are perhaps lucky to have him for IPL 11. Washington became a huge sensation in the last edition, bowling tidy spells during the powerplay. After scalping 12 wickets in the event, the off-spinning all-rounder broke into the Indian team and fetched impressive returns: nine wickets in six T20Is at an economy rate of 5.66.
Now experiencing an upward career trajectory, Washington can think about the 2019 World Cup. “As a young cricketer, you would like to play the World Cup. But there are a lot of things I need to focus on before that. I like to stay in the present and perform well when I get my chances,” said the 18-year-old.
Not thinking too far ahead is the approach Washington is adopting for his next assignment. With batsmen now more aware about the spin stratagems he employs, the 18-year-old is aware of the difficulties he may face during the powerplay, and is up for the task at hand. “It is a challenge, especially at M Chinnaswamy. Succeeding here will give anybody a lot of happiness and satisfaction. I am looking forward to bowling in the powerplay. I think I will come good.”
Challengers head coach Daniel Vettori had recently spoken about using Washington during the powerplay. No surprises there, as Washington is skilled at reading the batsman, varying his line, length and pace, and also extracting good bounce. And, the Chennai native does not want to become predictable.
“It’s important to be a bit proactive; to try and one-up the batsman. You need to predict what he is trying to do, where he might hit you. I always try to beat the batsman by reading his mind. It’s important to not be predictable. When an off-spinner bowls, a batsman might expect most of the deliveries to come at around 100kmph. It’s important to bluff the batsman at times, and ensure that ball lands in the right spot.”
Last season, Washington was fearless in his approach. He can take the same route with Virat Kohli, a skipper who is known to back his players. Even if things do not go according to plan, he has a spin mentor in Yuzvendra Chahal. He and Washington had turned out for India during the Nidahas Trophy, where the latter picked eight wickets and walked away with the Man of the Series award. The leg-spinner is now pleased with the additional option that Challengers have for the powerplay.
“During Nidahas, he bowled in the powerplay and I bowled in the middle overs. So we have more options. In the earlier seasons, I used to start in the powerplay and be left with just two overs later on,” remarked the leg-spinner. “Now we have one more who can bowl in the powerplay.”
ashimsunam@newindianexpress.com