The 25-year-old Gujarat Titans (GT) all-rounder Washington Sundar was shockingly dropped from the team for the Indian Premier League 2025 match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Wednesday, April 9.
The 23rd match of the Indian Premier League 2025 between the Gujarat Titans and the Rajasthan Royals is currently underway at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Washington Sundar shined on his GT debut
Sundar made his debut for the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 19th match of IPL 2025 on Sunday, April 6, against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
He did not get a chance to play in the first three matches of the season, and when he walked into the playing, he wasn’t allowed to bowl.
However, Sundar was sent to bat at the No.4 spot following the early dismissals of Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler inside 4 overs. He batted exceptionally well during the run-chase of 153 and stitched up a 90-run match-winning stand with Shubman Gill.
Sundar was quite unlucky as he was dismissed for 49 off 29 balls, with 5 fours and 2 sixes, and missed his well-deserved half-century by just one run.
After his heroics against SRH, many would have expected him to feature in the match against Rajasthan Royals, but that didn’t happen as he was dropped from the batting team.
Even though he was seen padded up during the first innings, he didn’t get a chance in the playing XI as Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler stabilized the innings very well after the early dismissal of Shubman Gill. Sundar still has a chance to come into the team in the second innings if GT feel a need for his off-spin.
Fans react to Washington Sundar’s snub:
Dropping Washington Sundar for Arshad Khan after Sundar was lights out is positively insane. Ashish Nehra is in WTF mode
— Aadit Kapadia (@ask0704) April 9, 2025
No washington sundar in eleven
— vayu (@xyvayu) April 9, 2025
Why Washington Sundar not part of GT batting?#GTvsRR
— King
(@Kriskk0909) April 9, 2025
GT literally has no batting depth. Despite that they benched Washington Sundar . Loosing to RR won’t be surprising.
— Yukti Kaushik (@sweetpotayayto) April 9, 2025
Only Nehra will drop Sundar
unless he’s coming back after 2 wickets ! rashid & Ishant
easy win for RR
— #boycott_nariyal_pani (@varnat3) April 9, 2025
How Sundar sneaks into the best 15 of India but doesn’t get a place in any IPL XI when 10 teams exist is a mystery pic.twitter.com/1WLCgmAH8M
— inaya ❀ (@serene_inaya) April 9, 2025
Where the f is Sundar? Unbelievable chutiyapa by GT! He batted unbelievably well in the last match and you don’t see him in the batting line up at all. What an irony! Nehra must be kicked out.@gujarat_titans #sundar @IPL
— Anti-liberal feminist (@rightlyhypocrit) April 9, 2025
Washington Sundar clashes with reporter
During the pre-match press conference, Washington Sundar had a heated clash with one of the reporters after the media person misquoted him.
“You had to wait for the fourth game to get a chance, and someone mentioned on air that you played two games and 14 international games last season,” the journalist asked Sundar.
Responding to this, Sundar said “What’s the question?” before the reporter clarified, saying “You apparently said, ‘I got only two IPL matches and 14 international games'”.
Sundar looked quite angry and further stated, “I said that? When did I say that? Did you hear me say that?” However, upon further clarification that it was a commentator who made the claim rather than the cricketer himself, Sundar calmed himself down and came up with a professional reply.
He said that he prepared himself very well and was waiting to get an opportunity to play for the Gujarat Titans. Sundar elaborated:
“I was definitely looking for the opportunity and was preparing really well. To be a part of the Titans is a great blessing because we practise for long hours. Our coach believes in putting in volumes, especially when it comes to improving in different aspects of the game, and it’s been great for me. That way, I know for a fact that I am always improving, and whenever the opportunity comes, I will be prepared.”
