Gujarat Titans were in a tough spot, chasing 153 runs and down by two wickets with just 16 runs on the board. That’s when Washington Sundar stepped up. He teamed up with Shubman Gill to add 90 runs to the board, almost single-handedly turning the game around. Sundar’s impressive 49 runs off 29 balls, including two sixes and five fours, brought his team back from the brink. He fell just one run short of a half-century, caught out by Mohammed Shami.
Sundar’s performance was all the more impressive given that this was his first match of the season. He hadn’t played in Gujarat’s first game against Punjab Kings, which sparked a discussion on social media. One user questioned how Sundar could be part of India’s 15-man squad but struggle to find a spot in any IPL team. Google CEO Sundar Pichai even chimed in, saying he was puzzled by the same thing.
After Sundar’s heroics, the Gujarat Titans Twitter account fired back at Pichai with a witty response: “Sundar came. Sundar conquered.” The tweet referenced the ancient Roman phrase “Veni, Vidi, Vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered), giving it a clever cricket twist.
This season, Sundar has played just one game, but he’s made it count. In his IPL career, he’s played 61 matches, scoring 427 runs and taking 37 wickets. Despite his talent, he’s struggled to find consistent playing time, featuring in 10 or more games in a season only twice (2017 and 2020).
Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, have bounced back from their opening loss to Punjab Kings. With three wins on the trot, they’ve jumped to second place in the points table. Shubman Gill and his team will look to keep the momentum going, and Sundar’s performance will be a big boost to their chances.