No Rohit, No Kohli: Washington Sundar Says India’s Young Test Squad Found an ‘Exciting’ New Identity

India’s 2-2 Test series draw in England was as much a test of nerves and character as it was of cricketing skill. Across five fiercely contested matches, each going down to the wire, Shubman Gill’s young side proved it could hold its own in challenging English conditions.

With senior stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin absent, Gill led a relatively inexperienced squad on his captaincy debut. All-rounder Washington Sundar, reflecting on the summer, said the youthful energy in the camp fostered strong bonds that helped the side push through decisive moments—particularly on the dramatic final day at The Oval.

“Just the way the whole dressing room and atmosphere was created—it was fabulous. We are all quite young and that’s extremely exciting,” Sundar told Wisden. “Coming into the series, we knew we’d all have to step up in different situations. Looking back, that’s exactly what we did.”

India’s resilience was highlighted by their fightbacks after defeats at Edgbaston and Lord’s. With players across the squad taking responsibility, the team responded with two stirring victories to level the series.

“There were so many individuals throughout who stepped up and won the situations—and eventually won games for the team,” Sundar said. “This is exactly the kind of team we’ve always wanted to be in, and we created some amazing bonds on and off the field.”

For Gill, it was a promising first overseas challenge as captain. While this series may mark the start of a new era for India’s Test side, the bonds forged and the lessons learned in England could prove vital as they chase consistency and results on the global stage.