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Washington Sundar, T Natarajan show toughness and courage in tough Gabba Test

Washington Sundar and T Natarajan showed their mental toughness and mettle on a tough Test in Gabba as India stayed in the contest against Australia.

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T Natarajan and Washington Sundar got the big wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith as their three wickets helped India immensely in the Brisbane Test. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter)
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The Indian cricket team came into the Gabba Test against Australia facing plenty of problems. Ravichandran Ashwin, Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah were all ruled out due to the injuries they sustained in the Sydney Test. The loss of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah was massive as the Indian bowling unit now was deprived of experience in addition to potency. At the Gabba, India handed a debut to Washington Sundar and T Natarajan while the other members of the pace attack which included Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini now had a combined experience of just seven Tests.

In the past, it has been seen that making a debut in Australia is incredibly hard. When one takes in the Brisbane intimidation factor, it is even more daunting. A venue where Australia have not lost for the last 32 years. Hostile crowds and one of the last true Australian venues with pace, swing and bounce, the Gabba is a fortress in addition to being a place where players’ fortitude is made or broken. Past Indian teams would have been deflated even before a ball was bowled. However, the current Indian team is a reflection of Ajinkya Rahane’s calmness as well as the confidence of the new age.

Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur made the early breakthroughs. But, in the tough middle period when the Gabba wicket becomes flat and easy to bat on, two Tamil Nadu youngsters showed their mettle and inspired tremendous confidence in the depth of the talent Indian cricket currently possesses. T Natarajan and Washington Sundar both showed their mettle and exploited the conditions perfectly.

Natarajan, Sundar not overawed

Washington Sundar began with three maiden overs and was bowling in the right channels. T Natarajan used the pitch and the length well as he clocked in excess of 140 kmph on a regular basis. He mixed up the lengths well, bowling full and getting the ball to swing in the humid Brisbane weather and also banging the ball hard onto the pitch to get the extra bounce.

The fact that they had to cope with Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith was a baptism by fire. However, Washington Sundar would have keenly listened to the words of Ravichandran Ashwin in trying to tackle Steve Smith. Sundar bowled a flighted delivery and got the ball to turn back in. Steve Smith, undone by offspin and straight deliveries previously to Ashwin, fell for the leg side trap set by Ajinkya Rahane yet again and Smith holed out to short midwicket. Once again, great execution and great captaincy saw the best Test batsman in the world fall before he made a big score.

Natarajan gets India back

Marnus Labuschagne hit a century and had shared a partnership in excess of 100 with Matthew Wade who was nearing a fifty. However, in the space of a couple of overs, India turned the advantage around in grand style and it was Natarajan who got them back. Matthew Wade was undone by the extra bounce and Marnus Labuschagne was undone by extra pace and late swing. The fact that Natarajan could do this to two set batsmen showed his talent and India came right back in the contest.

It was the inexperience that allowed Australia’s last five batsmen to score 156 runs. However, it was Natarajan and Sundar who once again led the way with the wickets of Nathan Lyon, Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood after Shardul Thakur had made the breakthrough with the wicket of Tim Paine.

Natarajan and Sundar showed maturity beyond their years and they were not overawed by the intimidation of the Gabba.

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