Dec 13: It was a proud moment for Washington Sundar who earned his maiden international cap, after he was picked in the eleven to face Sri Lanka in the second ODI being played at the PCA stadium at Mohali, Punjab.
The honours were done by the Indian team coach Ravi Shastri who handed him his cap, before the start of play on Wednesday.
Washington, aged 18 years and 69 days, has played 12 first class matches for Tamil Nadu and is the seventh youngest cricketer to make his debut for India.
The list is headed by Sachin Tendulkar who remains the youngest cricketer to play for India at 16 years and 238 days.
About a week ago, Washington was picked as a replacement for the injured Kedhar Jadhav in ODIs and now finds himself in the playing eleven in place of chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav.
"It has been my fourth day to be precise but I do not feel that I just became part of the team. I knew lot of players before, have played with Mahi bhai (Dhoni) in the IPL. I would definitely have to be ready to bowl 10 overs of off spin and contribute with the bat no matter what position the team is in," he had saidearlier.
Washington has been rewarded for his creditable performances in the Indian Premier League playing for Rising Pune Supergiants and in domestic cricket.
He started his career as a batsman before becoming an off-spinner and represented India at the Under-19 World Cup last year.
As for his unique first name, his father M Sundar had told The Hindu, “I am a Hindu and come from a very humble family. Two streets away from my home in Triplicane lived an ex-army man called P.D. Washington. He was extremely fond of cricket and would come to watch us play at the Marina ground.”
Sundar said that he was poor and Washington would buy uniforms for his son, pay his school fee, take him to the ground on his cycle and constantly encourage him.
“I decided to name him Washington in memory of the man who had done so much for me. Had I had a second son, I would have called him Washington Jr,” Sundar said.
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