Washington Sundar made a spectacular return to IPL action in 2025 with a match-winning knock for Gujarat Titans against his former side, Sunrisers Hyderabad. His performance prompted the Titans to revisit an old tweet by Google CEO Washington Sundar Pichai, who had once questioned the all-rounder’s underutilization in the league. Now, with a stunning debut for GT, Washington Sundar seems ready to rewrite his IPL story.
In a heartwarming crossover of cricket and tech, Gujarat Titans gave a shoutout to Google CEO Sundar Pichai after Washington Sundar’s stellar IPL comeback. The Indian all-rounder smashed 49 runs off 29 balls to guide GT to a seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 6, 2025. Sundar’s innings not only helped his side chase down a target of 153 but also brought back attention to a previously viral tweet from Pichai.
The tweet in question, posted during Sundar’s less active IPL years, had the Google chief expressing surprise at the lack of opportunities given to the young cricketer. On Sunday, Gujarat Titans responded in style, essentially saying, “You called it, Sundar is back!”
From Bench to Breakthrough
Washington Sundar’s IPL journey has been largely quiet despite his immense potential. During his three-year stint with SRH from 2022 to 2024, Sundar struggled to find a permanent place in the playing XI, with his best season being his debut year where he played nine matches. Even before that, while with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sundar had limited appearances, with his most active season being in 2020-21.
Despite the ups and downs in the IPL, Sundar’s international journey has shown more promise. He made his way back into India’s T20I setup against Bangladesh last year and was later picked for high-profile series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and Champions Trophy, although he didn’t get a game in the latter.
A Hopeful Start to IPL 2025
The start to Sundar’s GT stint couldn’t have been better. Not only did he shine against his former team, but he also sent a strong message about his capabilities. His composed yet attacking innings proved vital for GT’s successful chase and highlighted what he can bring when trusted with responsibility.
