Last Saturday, when he slammed 152 for Tamil Nadu in a Ranji Trophy game against Delhi in Delhi, a Test recall might have been the last thing on Washington Sundar’s mind. By Sunday night, news of his call-up for the second Test against New Zealand became official. On Tuesday afternoon, he joined up with his India colleagues for the first practice session ahead of the second game, and on Thursday evening, he conjured up his best figures in first-class cricket on Day One of the second Test at the MCA International Stadium.

To say that it has been a frenetic six days for the 25-year-old from Tamil Nadu will be an understatement. In his first Test in more than three and a half years, he was expected to be the understudy to R Ashwin, the senior offie with more than 500 scalps, and Ravindra Jadeja, who recently went past the 300-wicket mark.