New Delhi. From the rising stars of Indian cricket to the seasoned veterans, IPL writes a new story for every player. In a special conversation, experienced all-rounder Washington Sundar shared those unheard aspects of Gujarat Titans’ dressing room, which make it different from Team India. He spoke openly about the ‘straight forward’ captaincy of captain Shubman Gill and his four-year long unbroken relationship with Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra. Also, Sundar praised Bihar’s young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and admitted that his talent has the potential to break his record. Let us know the complete story of Sundar’s journey and his new role.
You play in IPL for Gujarat Titans. Many players are also with you in Team India. If we talk about Mohammad Siraj or Shubman Gill, then how is this dressing room of Gujarat different from the dressing room of Team India?
I don’t know how to say it’s different. But this is a great dressing room. We like the atmosphere here. We love being here and we know most of the players. Even those who are not part of the Indian team, we have spent a lot of time with them. We spend a lot of time together in the team room and also spend a lot of time on the field preparing for the match. Perhaps this is why we know each other very well and truly enjoy each other’s company. In this respect, I feel that Gujarat Titans team has always been amazing for every player.
Special conversation with Washington Sundar.
Gujarat captain Shubman Gill is also the captain of Team India. You have spent a lot of time with him. How do you see Gill as a captain?
One thing is sure about Gill as a captain that we can always expect complete honesty from him. For me especially, he made it very clear what was expected of me. This keeps my mind very calm and I understand what I have to do. I always know what my responsibilities are. In such a situation, as a captain, he has made things easier for all the players of the team, and this is a great support from the captain.
Currently, there is a lot of discussion about Vaibhav Suryavanshi. You are the youngest cricketer to debut in T-20 cricket for India. Can Vaibhav Suryavanshi break your record?
Yes, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is a very talented player. We can absolutely hope that he will play for India for many years. The way he uses his mind and especially how smart he is with his skills, he impresses people around him a lot.
Many new players have emerged in IPL 2026. They are coming from small towns and have done well in domestic cricket and Ranji Trophy. As a player who has played for Team India for a long time, do you see any changes?
It’s hard to say anything different. But really I am very grateful to IPL. Because it has changed the lives of many people. As you said, every season at least 10 to 15 new players come and perform well for their team. IPL has always been amazing, right from the first season. Even today we talk about the opportunities we get, especially in IPL, and ultimately our lives change and we get a platform to play. Over time, I have played high-level cricket in different roles, whether as a foreign player or an Indian. You share the dressing room with big players who have achieved a lot in this game. I believe this is a great opportunity to learn and understand what you can improve on your game to be more successful in the future.
When you look back, can you believe that your IPL career is almost a decade old? You started in 2017. Now that you have become a senior pro, what do you think about the change in your role?
This journey has been great. To be honest, I am extremely grateful for every experience and opportunity. Glad that I got a chance to experience so much in IPL right from the beginning. Like I said, it’s a great platform. Here you meet different people, spend time and play with them. You understand yourself and you understand how much there is to this game. You can do a lot of different things in different roles, whether with bat or ball. You keep learning and realize there is more to it. For this reason cricket always remains fun and exciting.
How do you view your interactions with team coach Ashish Nehra? He has been a brilliant bowler for the Indian cricket team, what did you learn from him?
To be honest, I never stop learning from him, especially from a person like him. I have personally learned a lot about cricket from him because he is someone who likes to share his experiences. He also explains how he thinks about the game and forms his opinions about different situations or players. Learning by being with them never ends and this is a big thing. It is also fun to be with them. You understand what needs to be worked on and also what you are strong in. He makes things easy and explains both your strengths and weaknesses. If you look at the last four years, this is my fourth year with GT. People have always had a great experience with GT whether they are playing it now or have played it before. Everyone has enjoyed coming here and has given a lot of love to this place. I will give full credit to him for this.
