R Ashwin leads, Washington Sundar shines: Apprentice steals the show in comeback Test with outstanding 7-wicket haul against New Zealand

It has been more than three-and-a-half years since India fielded two right-arm off-spinners in a Test XI. That was against England in Ahmedabad in March 2021, when R Ashwin took eight wickets and Washington Sundar one in an innings, 25-run win against England to secure the team's place in the final of the World Test Championship.

Despite scoring 265 runs in four Tests between January 15 and March 6, 2021, Washington was quickly eliminated in the five-day game. He continued to impress with the white ball but the doors to Test cricket seemed closed to him when he was dramatically named in the Indian team for the second match against New Zealand on Sunday.

Washington harbored ambitions of returning to red-ball action and made his comeback to Test cricket memorable for all the right reasons. In a wonderful show of finger spin on a responsive but not overly reactive surface, he beat his senior off-spin colleague from Tamil Nadu at times and finished the game with seven for 59, testament to the consistency and intelligence he displayed throughout his long game demonstrated, absolutely deserved numbers are stays at the bowling alley.

Washington ended a job of destruction started by Ashwin after Tom Latham won a crucial toss and elected to bat. There was never any doubt that the surface would help the spinners. The question was when and how much, not if. As it turned out, there was no minefield on the first day on Thursday, although there were enough signs that batting would become increasingly difficult as the game progressed.

Whether Washington felt pressure to deliver because he replaced a proven wicket-taker in the playing eleven, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, is not clear. If so, then he didn't show it. Washington has made leaps and bounds as a bowler since his last Test appearance and this was clearly evident in his use of the circle, the changes in angle and pace he brought to his bowling.

Of course, with concise, timely and meaningful insights from Ashwin, who has been there and done that. Washington began with two tight spells and then upped the ante in a crucial final attack that took him 7 for 28 from 10.1 overs; When he was done wrestling for the Kiwis, he finished with a career-best seven for 59, which also happened to be Ashwin's best Test score.

The two Chennai officials complemented rather than competed with each other. Ashwin generously shared his wisdom, secured his place in the pantheon and enjoyed his younger colleague's place in the sun, while Washington was quietly grateful for the support and encouragement. It was great fun to watch the master and the willing, talented apprentice at work. Great fun for everyone except those in the Kiwi dugout, although even they were transfixed by the consistency with which Washington hit his spots.

Ashwin was the one Washington understandably turned to when he met the team at the nets in Pune on Tuesday. “I asked him a few things that I felt could help me get better and ultimately use my skills really well, and he was kind enough to share his experience and knowledge of bowling, especially spin bowling,” Washington revealed. “Especially today we kept talking about what pace actually helps on this wicket.”

Although they both hail from Chennai, Ashwin and Washington's paths don't cross often. “Communicating with Ashwin is quite rare,” admitted Washington, “but he is very nice, especially from this perspective.” Not just me, but no matter who goes to him and asks him for bowling ideas, he is always there to help. That’s a great quality and it feels special to play alongside him in Test cricket.”

Different bowlers

Both may ply the same trade, but Ashwin and Washington are completely different operators. There are few bowlers in the world who have even half the skill of the Chennai engineer while Washington is still developing. Ashwin is the master of angles and pace, batsmen in action; Washington is still learning the intricacies of off-spin bowling, but on Thursday he bowled like a virtuoso. The ball that cleared Rachin Ravindra – it drifted into the left-hander and came loose while pitching to hit top-of-off – is generally an Ashwin special. The understudy, well, to say he made the master proud would be an understatement.

Ashwin and Washington accounted for all ten Kiwi wickets, the first time two Indian off-spinners had dismissed all batters in a completed Test innings. One is certain that they are not finished yet. Not by a long shot.