Reflecting on India’s challenging position in the second Test against South Africa, Washington Sundar acknowledged that the team’s execution in the batting department fell short, leading to a substantial first-innings deficit. India was dismissed for 201, handing South Africa a commanding 314-run lead. Despite the setback, Sundar urged for a positive outlook. ‘Got to stay positive in life. You never know what will happen,’ he commented after a tough day’s play.
The middle order collapsed under pressure, with Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel falling to aggressive shots. Sundar, however, suggested that these aggressive tactics can often be successful. ‘That’s how it is,’ he stated. ‘Sometimes you just have to back their plans and their skill sets… Obviously, execution didn’t go the way we wanted.’ Sundar, who was India’s highest scorer with 48, also expressed his willingness to bat anywhere in the order, emphasizing the strategic importance of team flexibility in Test matches. He noted that specific run-rate targets were not set for the innings, focusing instead on playing a typical Test match innings.