In a significant blow to Team India, all-rounder Washington Sundar has been officially ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing One Day International series against New Zealand. The decision comes after the player sustained a side strain during the first ODI in Vadodara.
Injury Strikes During Vadodara ODI
The injury occurred on Sunday during the series opener at the Baroda Cricket Association ground. Sundar, who was part of the bowling attack, managed to deliver only five overs before the side strain forced him to limit his involvement. Demonstrating grit, he later came out to bat at number eight, scoring seven runs from seven balls. However, he visibly struggled while running between the wickets towards the end of India's innings, which culminated in a victory led by KL Rahul.
Post-match, stand-in captain KL Rahul revealed he was unaware of the severity of Sundar's discomfort during the chase. "I didn't know he couldn't run. I knew he had a bit of an injury in the first innings, but I wasn't aware of the extent," Rahul stated. He added that Sundar had managed his batting role adequately under the circumstances.
Scan Results and Recovery Path
Medical scans conducted immediately after the match confirmed the severity of the injury. The reports indicated that the 28-year-old all-rounder requires a few weeks of rest for proper recovery. As a result, he has been released from the squad and will return home before proceeding to the National Cricket Academy (Centre of Excellence) in Bengaluru for further rehabilitation.
This development raises immediate concerns about Sundar's availability for the subsequent T20I series against New Zealand. More critically, it casts a shadow over his participation history in global events, as he is part of India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Washington Sundar has previously missed both the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups due to various injuries, making this latest setback a worrying pattern.
Second Injury Blow in Two Days for India
Sundar's injury is the second such incident to hit the Indian camp within 48 hours. On the eve of the first ODI, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was struck just above his waist by a delivery from a throwdown specialist during a practice session. The impact led to significant pain, and after being attended to by support staff including head coach Gautam Gambhir, Pant was ruled out of the entire series.
India pacer Harshit Rana, when asked about Sundar's condition after the game, confirmed, "Washington Sundar has a side strain. He was in pain while batting. Our medical team will assess and will update." The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet named a replacement for Washington Sundar in the ODI squad.
This double injury setback presents a challenge for the team management as they look to finalize combinations and manage player workload ahead of the crucial World Cup later this year. All eyes will now be on the medical team's updates regarding Sundar's recovery timeline.
