MUMBAI: Washington Sundar may not be a part of Team India for the forthcoming two-Test series against New Zealand at home, but he's still there in the camp for the Test specialists at the MCA's BKC facility here.
The off-spinning allrounder is still recovering from a finger injury he sustained in July, during a practice game ahead of the Test series in England. Since then, Sundar has missed plenty of cricket - the Tests in England, the T20 World Cup, and then the home series against New Zealand.
On Monday, the left-hander took some throwdowns, though he didn't bat or bowl. "The selectors are hoping that he'd be fit for the first Test in South Africa, which kicks off on December 17 in Johannesburg. He's a crucial cog in the wheel, especially as he bats so well and adds strength to the lower order. The team missed him badly in the T20 World Cup," a source told TOI.
While he's already established himself as a canny white-ball bowler, Sundar has scored 265 runs in four Tests@66.25, including three fifties, and taken six wickets@49.83 to show how valuable he can be in Test cricket.
On Tuesday, Sundar's replacement in the two-Test series against New Zealand, Jayant Yadav - who's making a comeback into the Indian team after five years - bowled for a long time.
