Washington Sundar Biography
From a teenager to an international match-winner, Washington Sundar’s journey is a story of discipline, resilience, and understated brilliance.Whether breaking partnerships or building crucial runs, he brings intelligence and composure to every contest he steps into.
Personal Overview
Full Name: Washington Sundar
Date of Birth: 5 October 1999
Birthplace: Chennai, Tamil Nadu,India
Age: 26years (as of early 2026)
Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Role: Bowling all-rounder
Education: St. Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School and completed an undergraduate degree from the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai.
Estimated Net Worth: ₹32–50 crore
Teams: Tamil Nadu,Gujrat Titans, India U-19, India-A,India
Early Life
Washington Sundar was born in a Tamil Hindu family on 5 October 1999 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His sister Shailaja Sundar is also a professional cricketer.
His father, Mani Sundar, was a keen cricketer who was in consideration for Tamil Nadu’s state team.
Sundar was named after P. D. Washington, a retired army officer who supported Mani Sundar financially during his playing days.
Sundar started playing cricket from the age of four or five.
He received his early education from St. Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School and completed an undergraduate degree from the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai.
His father recognized his talent early and became his first coach and mentor.
He trained at local academies in Chennai, including the well-known cricket circuits that have produced many Tamil Nadu cricketers.
Initially, he was more focused on batting, but coaches later encouraged him to develop his off-spin bowling which eventually became his major strength.
Domestic Career
Represented Tamil Nadu at various age-group levels (U-13, U-15, U-19).
Sundar made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy on 6 October 2016.
Gained national attention in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy season as a teenager.
Like Ravichandran Ashwin before him, Sundar went from being a batsman as a youngster to making his name as an off-spinner.
In October 2017, he scored his maiden first-class century for Tamil Nadu against Tripura in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy.
He was named in India C’s squad for the 2018–19 Deodhar Trophy.
He was selected for the national U-19 team for the 2016 U-19 World Cup.
His performances in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) helped him earn an IPL contract at a young age.
In August 2022, Sundar played for Lancashire County Cricket Club in the Royal London One-Day Cup and the County Championship.
He claimed a five-wicket haul in his debut match against Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.
International Career
In November 2017, Sundar was named in India’s Twenty20 International squad for their series against Sri Lanka.
Earlier, he was also added to India’s One Day International (ODI) squad for the same series, after Kedar Jadhav suffered a hamstring injury.
He made his ODI debut for India against Sri Lanka on 13 December 2017, his first international wicket being that of Lahiru Thirimanne.
He then made his T20I debut for India against Sri Lanka on 24 December 2017.
At the age of 18 years and 80 days, he became the youngest player to debut for India in T20Is.
In March 2018, Sundar was selected in India’s squad for the 2018 Nidahas Trophy against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
He was praised by many for his economical bowling inside the powerplay at an economy of less than 6 runs an over.
During the series, he bagged a maiden 3-wicket haul, making him the youngest T20I player to do so.
He was named the Player of the Series for his performance.
He then became a regular member of the Indian T20I team.
Sundar was initially picked for India’s 2020–21 Australia tour only as a net bowler.
However, injuries to fellow bowlers and the inability for India to fly in replacements at short notice due to quarantine restrictions in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic, saw him win an unexpected first Test cap on 15 January, in the final Test match of the series at The Gabba.
His first Test wicket was Steve Smith, and he scored 62 in his first Test innings in a crucial seventh wicket partnership of 123 with Shardul Thakur.
Which kept India from facing a huge first innings deficit and contributed greatly to India’s eventual victory in the Test.
With his maiden Test fifty, Sundar became the third Indian to score a half-century on Test debut in Australia.
Sundar was a part of the Indian squad that won the 2023 Asia Cup.
In October 2024, Sundar picked up his maiden ten-wicket haul in test cricket against New Zealand.
In the 4th match of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy he scored his maiden test century against England.
In the 2nd innings of the fifth match of the Indian cricket team in England in 2025 he scored 53 runs taking India to a huge score of 396 on bowling friendly pitch.
Sundar was a part of the Indian squad that won the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Currently he is an all format player and he was named for T20I World Cup 2026 Squad.
Franchise Career
In 2017, he was selected by Rising Pune Supergiants as a replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin.
He made his Twenty20 debut in the 2017 Indian Premier League on 22 April 2017.
He had received the Player of the Match award in the first qualifier played between Mumbai Indians and Pune Supergiants, in which he took 3 wickets for 16 runs.
In January 2018, he was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2018 IPL Auction.
In the 2022 IPL Auction, Sundar was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹8.75 crores.
In the IPL 2025 auction, Washington Sundar was acquired by Gujarat Titans for ₹3.2 crore.
Fun and Interesting Facts
His father named him “Washington” in gratitude to a former teammate, P.D. Washington, who supported his cricket journey. That’s why his name stands out in Indian cricket!
As a kid, he was primarily a top-order batter. His off-spin developed later and eventually became one of his biggest strengths.
His sister, Shailaja Sundar, is also a professional cricketer who has represented Tamil Nadu.
He made his India T20I debut in 2017 against Australia when he was only 18 becoming one of the youngest players to debut for India in T20Is.
Off the field, he enjoys listening to music and often shares chilled, relaxed vibes in interviews.
Records
Best bowling in Tests: 7/59 a career-best haul which was also his first five-wicket haul in Tests First Class cricket and one of the best figures by an Indian bowler against New Zealand.
Becoming the first Indian to hit so many sixes from number 9 or below in England.
He made his IPL debut at just 18 years old with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 and impressed everyone with his calm performances.
Has hit a fifty and claimed multiple wickets with handy strikes across games.
