"Just before the ball, Riyan Parag told me that it would be great if he could get a catch" - Washington Sundar on Johnathan Campbell's dismissal

Washington Sundar has disclosed that Riyan Parag told him that he would want to take a catch off his bowling just before the off-spinner had Johnathan Campbell caught by the substitute fielder at slip in the third T20I between India and Zimbabwe. Sundar registered figures of 3/15 in four overs in the Men in Blue's 23-run win and was awarded the Player of the Match.

India set Zimbabwe a 183-run target in the third game of the five-match series in Harare on Wednesday, July 10. The visitors then restricted the Chevrons to 159/6 to take a 2-1 lead after a defeat in the first game.

During a post-match interview with Sony Sports, Washington Sundar was asked his thoughts on some of his dismissals. As for Campbell, he said:

"Just before the ball, Riyan Parag told me that it would be great if he could get a catch because he had come in as a substitute. It was great for me to execute in that vein."

The Tamil Nadu spinner stated that he knew beforehand that Sikandar Raza and Clive Madande would look for big shots and he adjusted his line accordingly.

"The first wicket was Sikandar Raza. I knew he was going to go big right from the first ball, and I am glad to have gotten him out. Even the last one, I really wanted to take it wide because I knew he was going to look big on the on-side," Sundar elaborated.

Sundar first had Raza caught by Rinku Singh at deep square leg while attempting a big hit. Campbell then nicked the ball to Parag at first slip in the same over before Rinku took another catch at deep square leg to help Sundar complete his three-wicket haul.

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"To be playing for the country in every single game and getting to perform like this itself is a huge blessing for me" - Washington Sundar

In the same interview, Washington Sundar was also asked how happy he is about being the joint-highest wicket-taker in the series after not getting to play much in IPL 2024.

"Definitely very happy. First of all, to be playing for the country in every single game and getting to perform like this itself is a huge blessing for me. Obviously, I have been preparing in my own terms though I wasn't playing a lot of games, and I believed for a fact that it would pay off whenever it has to and it's been good so far in this series," he responded.

Andy Flower further asked Sundar whether he might be rotated out in either of the last two T20Is just like the seamers.

"I believe that I would play. There are only a couple of spinners in the squad. So I think me and (Ravi) Bishnoi would continue playing," he replied.

Washington Sundar responded that he is very much looking forward to it when jokingly asked about Flower, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach, wanting to know whether he is keen to bowl at the Chinnaswamy next year.

He added that he had a great four-year stint with RCB before being acquired by the SunRisers Hyderabad.