Hampshire rope in all-rounder Washington Sundar for final two rounds of County Championship

Published - 11 Sept 2025, 17:33 IST | Updated - 11 Sept 2025, 17:58 IST

India’s spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar has signed with Hampshire for the final two rounds of the 2025 County Championship. The 25-year-old, who was not part of India’s ongoing Asia Cup squad, will look to make the most of it for Hampshire in their matches against Somerset and Surrey later this month.

Although he was among the probables for the Asia Cup, India’s selectors opted for Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy in the spin department. Keen to stay match-fit and maintain his place in India’s Test squad, Sundar has turned to county cricket. In 2022, he represented Lancashire, where he bagged a five-wicket haul on debut against Northamptonshire.

“Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar will join Hampshire for the final two rounds of the Rothesay County Championship. It will be Sundar’s first taste of county cricket since 2022, when he represented Lancashire in the County Championship and One Day Cup; he picked up a five-for on debut against Northamptonshire,” Hampshire confirmed Sundar’s arrival via an official statement.

Gaikwad pulls out of County Championship deal with Yorkshire

The all-rounder heads into the County Championship on the back of an impressive Test series against England earlier this summer. Across four matches, Sundar scored 284 runs at an average of 47.33, including a memorable century at Old Trafford that helped India save the fourth Test. With the ball, he picked up seven wickets. Hampshire Director of Cricket Giles White announced the signing, mentioning Sundar’s potential influence in the club’s final two fixtures.

“We’re delighted to bring Washington to the club for the County Championship. He had an excellent series against England this summer and he’ll play a key role with two big games coming up against Somerset and Surrey,” said White in a statement.

Meanwhile, Hampshire is looking to finish the season strongly. Notably, the team faces Somerset at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton from September 15 to 18, followed by defending champions Surrey at the Utilita Bowl from September 24 to 27. In his first-class career so far, Sundar has played 40 matches, scoring 1,885 runs at an average of 34 and taking 91 wickets. His best bowling figures of 7/59 came against New Zealand in Pune in 2024.