In a significant setback for the Indian cricket team, all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing home ODI series against New Zealand. The injury casts a shadow over his participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup, which is less than a month away.
Injury Strikes During Vadodara ODI
The reliable but injury-prone off-spinner sustained a side strain during the opening One Day International in Vadodara on Sunday. A source within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the news to Times of India on Monday. Sundar will miss the two remaining ODIs scheduled for January 24 in Rajkot and January 28 in Indore.
His participation in the subsequent five-match T20 International series against New Zealand, starting January 21 in Nagpur, is also now in serious doubt. Sundar's absence is a major blow to India's plans, especially considering he is a part of the squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup to be held at home.
On-Field Struggle and Medical Assessment
The injury severely hampered Sundar's performance during the first ODI. He could bowl only five overs, conceding 27 runs. When he came out to bat at number eight, he was visibly in pain and struggled to run between the wickets. Despite the discomfort, he played a crucial cameo, scoring 7 not out off 7 balls. He partnered with KL Rahul to add an unbeaten 27 runs for the seventh wicket, helping India secure a tense four-wicket victory.
At the post-match press conference, when asked about Sundar's condition, a team representative stated, "Washington has a side strain. He was in pain while batting. Our medical team will assess and will update."
Another Blow to India's Injury-Plagued Squad
Washington Sundar is the second Indian player to be ruled out of this home series against New Zealand due to injury. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was earlier hurt while taking throwdowns in the nets. The BCCI had picked Dhruv Jurel as Pant's replacement and is expected to announce a replacement for Sundar soon as well.
This latest injury raises fresh concerns about player fitness management with a global tournament on the horizon. The team management and selectors will be hoping for a swift recovery for the talented all-rounder, whose batting and bowling skills provide vital balance to the side.
