Sundar opens up on dressing room mood after India's tumultuous final session
The final hour of play on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne was packed with dramatic twists and turns.
In the context of the Border-Gavaskar series and the ICC World Test Championship, the final hour of play on Day 2 at Melbourne could prove pivotal for India's fortunes.
After enduring a long grind to bowl out Australia for 474 earlier in the day, India were briefly undone by the loss of wickets of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul early. However, the visitors seized control with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli crafting a steady 102-run partnership at the crease in the second session.
“We looked like we were in a good position to get big runs, especially when Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal were batting,” India all-rounder Washington Sundar said at the press conference at the end of the day’s play.
Disaster, however, struck the visitors in rapid succession at the fag end of the day's play. Jaiswal was run out for 82 after a mix-up with Kohli, who appeared caught ball-watching as both batters ended up at the same end.
The setback seemed to rattle Kohli's focus. After a disciplined display of leaving deliveries outside off stump, he succumbed to his old nemesis, edging a ball while fishing outside off and falling cheaply.
From a promising 153/2, India slumped to 164/5 by stumps, losing night watchman Akash Deep for a duck as well. Rohit Sharma's side trailed Australia by 310 runs, with 111 still needed to avoid the follow-on.
Washington Sundar, however, expressed confidence in the team's ability to stage a comeback.
“We will still come back and continue to fight tomorrow morning,” Sundar added.
“Energy is very good in the dressing room. We are all positive. There's a long time in the game as well, there's three days and a lot of overs to play. It will be just about us and trying to fight really hard and get things done for the team.”
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While the Border-Gavaskar series dominated headlines leading into Boxing Day, Ravichandran Ashwin's unexpected retirement after the Gabba Test also remained a major talking point.
Reflecting on his close bond with Ashwin – both hailing from the same state and sharing similar all-rounder profiles – Sundar shared how the former India star's guidance had been instrumental in preparing him for this high-stakes series.
“Preparations always happen, whether or not I am playing the game. Preparations are like bread and butter for us,” Sundar said.
“Obviously, having a lot of conversations with Ash [Ravichandran Ashwin], especially about how the conditions play in Australia gave me a lot of insight. He's come here multiple times, I think was his fifth tour with the red ball.
“We spoke a lot even before coming into this tour. Having someone of his calibre and experience share a lot of knowledge and information about Australia definitely helped me."
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With three days remaining, all three results are still on the table. However, it is India who face an uphill battle to hold on to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and keep their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship Final alive.
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