The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a significant change to the Indian squad for the upcoming One Day International series against New Zealand. All-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out due to injury, prompting the national selection committee to name a like-for-like spinning replacement.
Injury Forces Washington Sundar Out of Contention
The BCCI confirmed on Friday that Washington Sundar sustained an injury while participating in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. The nature of the injury was not explicitly detailed in the official release, but it is severe enough to require him to miss the entire three-match ODI contest against the Black Caps. Sundar, a valuable asset for the Indian team with his off-spin and lower-order batting, will now focus on his recovery.
This development is a setback for the team management, which often relies on Sundar's economical bowling and handy contributions with the bat in the middle and lower order. His absence creates a vacancy for a spin-bowling all-rounder in the squad.
Ravi Bishnoi Gets the National Call-Up
Stepping into the breach is young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. The 23-year-old, who represents Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League, has been drafted into the ODI squad as Sundar's direct replacement. While Bishnoi is primarily known as a wicket-taking bowler and is not a batting all-rounder like Sundar, his selection adds a different dimension to the spin attack.
Bishnoi is no stranger to the Indian setup, having previously represented the country in T20Is. His inclusion suggests the team management is looking to bolster the wicket-taking options in the middle overs. The leg-spinner will join the likes of Kuldeep Yadav as the specialist spin options for the series.
The official BCCI statement read, "The Men's Selection Committee has named Ravi Bishnoi as the replacement for Washington Sundar for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand."
Series Schedule and Squad Dynamics
The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to commence on January 18, 2026. The series holds importance as both teams continue their preparations and build depth in the 50-over format.
With this change, the revised Indian squad for the series now includes:
- Ravi Bishnoi (Leg-spin)
- Kuldeep Yadav (Chinaman)
- Other squad members as originally selected
Bishnoi's challenge will be to adapt quickly to the ODI format at the international level and seize the opportunity presented by Sundar's unfortunate injury. His ability to control the flow of runs and pick crucial wickets will be under scrutiny.
For Washington Sundar, the immediate focus shifts to rehabilitation. Fans and the team will hope for a swift and complete recovery, allowing the talented all-rounder to return to competitive cricket at the earliest. This incident also highlights the intense physical demands of modern cricket, where players often transition between different formats and domestic tournaments without a significant break.
