Washington Sundar Biography, Age, Career, Stats, Net Worth
Washington Sundar
For someone who grew up in an era where cricket is a religion and competition for the national jersey is cutthroat, talent alone doesn’t stand out resilience does. And that is precisely what Washington Sundar has done. Birth Date: 05-10-1999 Birth Place: Chennai, Tamil Nadu Sundar is one of the newest and most thrilling all-rounders to emerge from India in the cosmopolitan cricketing landscape of the modern era. Bats left handed, bowls right-arm off-spin and the kind of player who is genuinely capable in all three formats.
The story of Washington Sundar is remarkable but not solely because of his achievements, but how he has gone about achieving them frequently opportunistic where others have fumbled. From the net bowler on India’s tour of Australia to a maiden Test century in England, his story has been one that no one could have penned out ahead of time.
Personal Details
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Washington Sundar |
| Date of Birth | October 5, 1999 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 26 years |
| Birthplace | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) |
| Batting Style | Left-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-spin |
| Jersey Number | 555 (IPL) |
| Domestic Team | Tamil Nadu |
| IPL Team | Gujarat Titans |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Nationality | Indian |
Early Life and Family Background
Washington Sundar had cricket in blood from his childhood as he belongs to a middle-class family settled in Chennai. His father, Mani Sundar (M. Sundar), was a promising cricketer himself and came close to selection in the Tamil Nadu state team. Mani’s father played at a time when there was little money in cricket, but a retired Army officer who lived nearby, one P. D. Washington, helped pay Mani’s school fees and buy his cricket gear.
P. D. Washington died in 1999, the same year that Mani Sundar’s son was born. Mani decided to name his son Washington Sundar, in honour of the man who stood by him. It has one of the most significant stories behind a name in Indian cricket.
Sundar comes from a cricketing family as his sister, M. S. Shailaja Sundar is also a professional cricketer. Even at the age of four or five, Sundar started playing cricket; his father had made sure to pass on the technical basics and discipline from the early days.
Education
For his early schooling, Sundar studied at St. Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai. He went on to finish his bachelors from the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai while balancing a busy cricket schedule.
Early Cricket Journey
Similar to the great Ravichandran Ashwin (from Tamil Nadu) before him, Sundar began as a batsman. He slowly became an off-spinner, learning from ex-India offie M. Venkataramana. This mentorship proved transformative.
Sundar played as a batting all-rounder for India at the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup, when he was only 16. In that event, India finished as the runner-up but Sundar’s composure even then was an ever shining attribute.
Domestic Career
One day after his 17th birthday, on October 6, 2016 Sundar made a first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy. In domestic cricket, he acclimatised to this level effortlessly, exhibiting the same frugality and control that would characterise his reputation at international level.
He first came to the limelight on home soil in the 2017 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), as he finished with a magnificent 459 runs at an unthinkably brutal strike-rate, adding 15 wickets for good measure a perfect all-rounder performance that signaled his status as an exceptional talent.
He grabbed a firm first impression in IPL circles as well. He was bought by the Rising Pune Supergiants and replaced Ravichandran Ashwin in 2017; shone immediately on his debut match conceding only 16 runs for 3 wickets and maintained his frugal economy throughout the tournament. Pune made it to the IPL final, largely on the back of his powerplay bowling.
IPL Career
| Season | Franchise | Notable Contribution |
| 2017 | Rising Pune Supergiants | 3/16 on debut; helped Pune reach finals |
| 2020 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Economy rate of 5.96 across 15 matches |
| 2024 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Key all-round role; ₹8.75 crore contract |
| 2025 | Gujarat Titans | ₹3.2 crore; personal best of 49 runs |
| 2026 | Gujarat Titans | Retained for upcoming season |
International Career
T20I Career
Sundar made his international T20I debut on 24 December 2017 against Sri Lanka. He has set the T20 Internationals, he made his debut at just 18 years and 80 days becoming the youngest Indian who stereotyped how much that team management rated him.
He made a name for himself as a powerplay bowler from the get-go, having bowled at an economy of below 6 RPO during the first six overs. He dazzled against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh during 2018 Nidahas Trophy, claimed his maiden T20I three-wicket haul and was later awarded the Player of the Series all fairly extraordinary for a teenager.
ODI Career
Sundar made his ODI debut versus Sri Lanka on December 13, 2017, at Mohali. Lahiru Thirimanne of Sri Lanka became his first wicket. He has since established himself as a reliable middle-overs option, offering control without compromising on variety.
He had also featured in the Indian team that won the 2023 Asia Cup, and the India- England clash for the title at Ahmedabad would have him lifting few more silver wares on his international record alongside bringing home prestigious titles like 2023 Asia Cup & 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Test Career
This is where Washington Sundar’s bio becomes borderline epic at the Test stage.
He was a net bowler, not even in the playing XI discussions when he originally went down to Australia for 2020-21. Everything changed when injuries and COVID-19 protocols intervened. On January 15,2021 at The Gabba in Brisbane was given his Test debut cap, and who handed him the cap yes Ravichandran Ashwin.
What followed was one of the most memorable Test-debut performances by an Indian :
- Eight Andrew Tye took his wicket this was only the 19th ball Steve Smith had faced in Test cricket As with most things there is a downside.
- Batting at no.7 for India, he scored 62 in the first innings under extreme pressure
- In the second innings, he remains an important 22
- He fared a lot better in the match, taking 4 wickets
His 123-run stand with Shardul Thakur which came during India’s successful chase of 328 at The Gabba a ground Australia had not lost in over three decades. India won by 3 wickets. Still one of the great Test wins in Indian cricket history.
His Test career was stop-start after the Gabba heroics due to India’s spin strength Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav ahead in the pecking order. Injuries in 2022, 2023 and into 2024 only continued to delay his progress. However, he delivered the performance of his career in October 2024, taking 10 wickets in a Test against New Zealand.
Then came England in 2025. In the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, picked as the second spinner for India, Sundar amassed 284 runs from eight innings with an average of 47.33 and a maiden Test century (101*) at Old Trafford, Manchester to help India secure a vital draw. He also took 7 wickets in the series.
He also played an important role in winning the T20 World Cup 2026 for India, as of 2026.
Career Statistics
Bowling
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best |
| Tests | 17 | 36+ | 32.97 | 3.26 | 7/59 |
| ODIs | 29 | 29 | 28.86 | 4.95 | 3/30 |
| T20Is | 60 | 51 | 23.80 | 6.98 | 3/3 |
Major Achievements and Records
- Youngest Indian to debut in T20 Internationals (18 years, 80 days)
- First Indian to claim a T20I three-wicket haul as a teenager
- Player of the Series Nidahas Trophy 2018
- Scored 62 on Test debut at The Gabba one of the highest scores by a No. 7 on debut in India’s history
- Third Indian cricketer to score a half-century on Test debut in Australia
- Part of India’s historic Gabba win in 2021 ending Australia’s 32-year unbeaten run at the venue
- 10 wickets in a single Test match vs New Zealand (October 2024)
- Maiden Test century (101*) at Old Trafford, England (July 2025)
- ICC T20 World Cup 2026 winner with Team India
- Part of India’s 2023 Asia Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy winning squads
Awards and Honors
- Player of the Series Nidahas Trophy 2018 (T20I)
- Mahindra Thar SUV gifted by industrialist Anand Mahindra for his Gabba heroics (2021)
- BCCI Central Contract Grade C (₹1 crore annual retainer)
- ICC Test Bowling Ranking Top 60 globally
Playing Style and Strengths
Coaches and analysts alike refer to Washington Sundar as a cricketer who’s wise beyond his years. At 6’1″ he is physically able to extract bounce from the pitch (uncommon for an off-spinner). He has a very tight line and length, subtle variations in his flight, and is especially dangerous with the white-ball during the powerplay.
His left-handed strokeplay plays a pivotal profiling role in balancing the Indian batting lineup as batsman. Siraj is not a defensive cricketer; he has shown that he can bury his head and build innings under pressure and launch when needed too, as he did with his Test hundred in England.
His key strengths include:
- Powerplay economy rate (less than 6 in T20s consistently)
- One that gets wickets early in the order
- Calm temperament in pressure situations
- Sure enough, you are endowed with the depth to get out of a mess in dire straits
- Adaptability across all three formats
Net Worth and Income Sources
Washington Sundar Net Worth 2026 ₹32 crore (USD 4 Million) His fortune has grown with steady revenues through diverse income streams:
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Central Contract – Grade C – ₹1 crore per annum
- Match Fees: ₹15 lakh per Test, ₹6 lakh per ODI, ₹3 lakh per T20I
- IPL 2025 contract (Gujarat Titans): ₹3.2 crore
- Brand endorsements ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore per year
- Personal Assets: Mercedes SUV, Mahindra Thar (given as a gift), newly bought house in Chennai (house warmed in March 2025)
Brand Endorsements
Sundar’s growing stature in the game and beyond has landed him multiple high-profile brand endorsements:
- Puma sports apparel and footwear
- Gillette grooming products
- Fire-Boltt smartwatches
- Anker Innovations electronics
- TCL consumer electronics
- SG (Sanspareils Greenlands) cricket equipment
- Forma Helmets safety gear
Considering how he played in 2024 and 2025, he’s got to have a massive social media audience and endorsement future.
Social Media Presence
Washington Sundar has a presence on the leading social media handles, where he shares his cricketing life updates, going about his personal life and endorsement details. His housewarming pictures began circulating back in March 2025, and helped give fans a taste of his off-the-field personality. He is becoming more and more popular especially among young cricket fans who are fond of his low key but effective approach.
- Instagram: @washisundar555
- Twitter/X: @Sundarwashi5
Latest News and Recent Updates
- July 2025: His maiden Test ton (101) at Old Trafford during India’s tour of England had him praised across the cricketing fraternity.
- Averaged 47.33 with bat, playing critical role in India bounceback over five-Test series vs England 2025
- Housewarming of his new home in Chennai one image that went viral on social media March 2025
- 2025 IPL: ₹3.2 crore for Gujarat Titans; Highest personal score in IPL 49
- IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans retained him for the ongoing season
- T20 World Cup 2026: part of India’s championship-winning team.
- ICC Ranking: Among the 60 top Test bowlers in the world currently.
Interesting Facts About Washington Sundar
- Surnamed after an Army officer: The player is named after retired Army officer P. D. Washington who funded his father’s cricket career.
- Though he went to Australia as a net bowler: He wasn’t even in the original squad but ended up with one of India’s greatest Test debuts.
- 555: He picked this number because he was born on October 5 (5th) at reports say, 5:05 AM.
- Stuck on 96*: In a home Test in Ahmedabad in 2021, he was stuck on 96 not out a miss that left him with bitter-sweet memories. His century finally came in 2025.
- Before that, his father M. Sundar made allegations of bias and claimed his son’s career was being mismanaged – such was pressure cooker environment for the family during selection droughts.
- Ashwin’s heir ESPNcricinfo even calls him Ashwin’s heir-apparent in the Indian Test team, which for any off-spinner anywhere is high praise.
- GIFTED A MAHINDRA THAR: After his Gabba knock, industrialist Anand Mahindra, personally gifted him a Tha
FAQs
Q1. What is Washington Sundar’s date of birth?
Washington Sundar was born on October 5, 1999, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Q2. Why is Washington Sundar called by that name?
He was named after P. D. Washington, a retired Army officer who financially supported his father, Mani Sundar, during his cricketing days. When P. D. Washington passed away in 1999, his father named his newborn son after him as a tribute.
Q3. What was Washington Sundar’s best performance in Test cricket?
His most iconic Test performance remains the Gabba Test in 2021, where he scored 62 and 22 and took 4 wickets, helping India win a historic Test after 32 years on that ground. He also scored his maiden Test century (101*) at Old Trafford in July 2025.
Q4. Which IPL team does Washington Sundar play for?
As of 2025 and 2026, Washington Sundar plays for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
Q5. What is Washington Sundar’s net worth?
His estimated net worth as of 2026 is approximately ₹32 crore (around USD 4 million), earned through BCCI contracts, IPL salary, match fees, and brand endorsements.
Q6. What is Washington Sundar’s bowling style?
He is a right-arm off-spin bowler who is particularly effective during the powerplay overs, maintaining tight lines and extracting bounce due to his height of 6 feet 1 inch.
Q7. Has Washington Sundar won any ICC trophies?
Yes. He was part of India’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 winning squad, the 2023 Asia Cup winning team, and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy winning squad.
Read more : Shivam Dube | Ishan Kishan | Rinku Singh
