Since Ravichandran Ashwin was unable to play in the fourth and final Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane due to injury, Washington Sundar made his Test debut for India. Thanks to some outstanding results with both the bat and the ball, he became an instant hero among Indian fans. He took four wickets in all, but more importantly, he scored a back-to-back 62 in the first innings to help India out, followed by a 22 in the second. Overall, Sundar’s debut was spectacular, one for the ages. And now the Indian cricketer has honoured the occasion by calling his dog after the Gabba stadium where he made his debut.
Love is a four-legged word. World, meet Gabba! 🐾 pic.twitter.com/I1O76Jm63o
— Washington Sundar (@Sundarwashi5) April 3, 2021
During the Gabba Test, Washington struck at a critical moment, dismissing Australia’s top batsman Steve Smith for the first time in a Test match. He then took the wickets of Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon to end the first innings with figures of 3/89.
With Australia scoring 369 in the first innings, India was under pressure to get off to a strong start. The Indian top-order, on the other side, crumbled, and when Rishabh Pant was dismissed, the visitors were reduced to 186/6, facing a wide first-inning deficit.
Sundar and Shardul Thakur, on the other hand, had different thoughts. The pair added 123 runs for the seventh wicket, which was the highest seventh-wicket partnership for India at the Gabba.
Australia’s dreams of a major lead were shattered when India crossed 336 in the first innings thanks to them.
Rishabh Pant’s heroics with the bat in the second innings were all about him, with the Indian wicket-keeper scoring a scintillating 89 not out to lead India to one of their most unforgettable Test victories.