Cricket
Exclusive: Nayan Mongia Tips Washington Sundar for All-Format Success, says Pressure on England
In a thrilling final hour of play at Manchester, India's Jadeja and Sundar scored match-saving centuries against England, refusing to shake hands prematurely. Former India player Nayan Mongia praised their efforts and emphasized the psychological edge India now holds in the series. With the final Test at The Oval looming, India looks to level the series at 2-2, relying on their current form and fighting spirit.
England v India - 4th Rothesay Test Match: Day Five by Stu Forster | Getty Images
Tempers were flying in the final hour of play at Manchester when England captain Ben Stokes offered India a draw with an hour of play remaining and two batters, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, on the verge of scoring hundreds. The hosts were tired after being blunted for 140-odd overs.
Jadeja (107*) and Sundar (101*) refused to shake hands prematurely and scored match-saving centuries in an unbeaten 203-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Their fighting spirit, earlier aided by skipper Shubman Gill's 103 and KL Rahul's 90, will hold India in good stead as they look to level the series, currently at 2-1, in the final Test at The Oval in London starting Thursday.
At one point in the fourth Test, India were 1/2 at lunch and a batter short, as Rishabh Pant was ruled out due to a toe fracture, but they did not surrender as the series was on the line.
India's psychological edge after Manchester grind
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Nayan Mongia lauded Jadeja and Sundar for adding value to the series and providing India with a "psychological edge", as now they have a chance of finishing 2-2. "It's a good challenge. It's a great chance to level the series. The confidence will be high in the dressing room, and the players will be pepped up. The pressure will be on England to win the series," he told SportsBoom.com.
Mongia, who played 44 Tests for India, felt the script could have been different if Joe Root had not dropped Jadeja at slip off a fiery Jofra Archer, who got rid of Gill.
"They say catches win matches. Jadeja was dropped, and then, it was history as both he and Sundar, who scored his maiden hundred, batted superbly. Jadeja is in great form [454 runs], and Sundar has proved again how important an all-rounder he can be for India in any format. Everybody is in good form, and they have had a good run in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. It should be a good cricket match at The Oval," he added.
Why not score hundreds being so close?
Stokes' attempt to stop Jadeja and Sundar from scoring centuries was criticised by experts and commentators, including former England captain Nasser Hussain.
The talismanic all-rounder, who scored 141 and ended with a five-for in the first innings, perhaps wanted to secure a moral victory in his head.
"Why would anybody declare an innings when they are close to scoring hundreds, and when they have 15-odd overs left? They had every right to play, and did the right thing by refusing to shake hands earlier."
Mongia added that India will have to choose their seamers wisely if Jasprit Bumrah — who already played three Tests — opts out.
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh could debut as he has recovered from the hand injury, while Akash Deep is likely to be match-fit too.
"It all depends on the surface and how the bowlers in reserves are bowling. It is difficult to say from here, but I am sure the team management will take the right call."
India beat England by 157 runs in their last outing at The Oval, even after trailing by 99 runs in the first innings. Gill could take a leaf out of that match to aim for the kill.
Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya is a cricket journalist based in India who takes a keen interest in stories that unfold on and off the field. His expertise lies in news writing, features and profiles, interviews, stats, and numbers-driven stories. He has also worked as a podcaster and talk show host on cricket-related shows on YouTube and Spotify.