18-year-old Washington Sundar becomes 7th youngest cricketer to debut for India

News Network
December 13, 2017

Dec 13: It was a proud moment for Washington Sundar who earned his maiden international cap, after he was picked in the eleven to face Sri Lanka in the second ODI being played at the PCA stadium at Mohali, Punjab.

The honours were done by the Indian team coach Ravi Shastri who handed him his cap, before the start of play on Wednesday.

Washington, aged 18 years and 69 days, has played 12 first class matches for Tamil Nadu and is the seventh youngest cricketer to make his debut for India. 

The list is headed by Sachin Tendulkar who remains the youngest cricketer to play for India at 16 years and 238 days.

About a week ago, Washington was picked as a replacement for the injured Kedhar Jadhav in ODIs and now finds himself in the playing eleven in place of chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav.

"It has been my fourth day to be precise but I do not feel that I just became part of the team. I knew lot of players before, have played with Mahi bhai (Dhoni) in the IPL. I would definitely have to be ready to bowl 10 overs of off spin and contribute with the bat no matter what position the team is in," he had saidearlier.

Washington has been rewarded for his creditable performances in the Indian Premier League playing for Rising Pune Supergiants and in domestic cricket.

He started his career as a batsman before becoming an off-spinner and represented India at the Under-19 World Cup last year.

As for his unique first name, his father M Sundar had told The Hindu, “I am a Hindu and come from a very humble family. Two streets away from my home in Triplicane lived an ex-army man called P.D. Washington. He was extremely fond of cricket and would come to watch us play at the Marina ground.”

Sundar said that he was poor and Washington would buy uniforms for his son, pay his school fee, take him to the ground on his cycle and constantly encourage him.

“I decided to name him Washington in memory of the man who had done so much for me. Had I had a second son, I would have called him Washington Jr,” Sundar said.

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News Network
March 22,2024

IPL.jpg

The start of the world’s most lucrative cricket tournament in India is presenting investors with another big opportunity to cash in on the sport, months after the world’s most populous nation hosted the Cricket World Cup.

The eight-week long Indian Premier League begins March 22 for its 17th season. Since its inception, the fast-paced cricket tournament has become a corporate juggernaut to rival the National Football League in the US and the English Premier League in value.

Just as October’s Cricket World Cup boosted consumption in India for months, fans are expected to flock to restaurants, pubs and food delivery platforms over the duration of the tournament. This year’s IPL also coincides with general elections that will last for six weeks starting April 19, a period when companies are expecting higher food and drink sales as people flock to rallies and other events.

“There’s going to be a lot of spending,” said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda. “IPL, as well as the election, gives a three-month corridor with enhanced economic activity.”

Stocks in India such as McDonald’s franchise operator Westlife Foodworld Ltd. and peer Sapphire Foods India Ltd. gained ahead of the first match on Friday, as well as hotels and beverage makers. Packaged-food companies could also stand to benefit from the IPL craze, said Sachil Bobade, an analyst at investment firm Dolat Capital Market.

The IPL ecosystem was valued at $11 billion (Rs 91,721 crores) in 2023, including the value of media rights and sponsorships, according to Indian valuation consulting firm D&P Advisory.

The league is also attracting record sums of money from sponsors and broadcasters. Conglomerate Tata Group won the title sponsorship rights of the tournament in January for a record 25 billion rupees ($300 million). Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s media venture secured the digital streaming rights in 2022 for five years for $2.7 billion, while Walt Disney Co. paid roughly the same for TV rights.

“There was a serious amount of bidding even this year,” said Vinit Karnik, head of entertainment, esports and sports at media agency GroupM South Asia. “I see growth in IPL in double digits year-on-year,” he adds.

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