Washington Sundar's T20 World Cup 2026 Hopes Hang in the Balance
Indian cricket all-rounder Washington Sundar is embroiled in a desperate race against time to achieve full fitness for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The talented player's participation in the prestigious tournament is now under a significant cloud of doubt due to a recent injury setback.
Injury Details and Immediate Impact
Sundar sustained a painful rib injury during the first One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand in Vadodara. This unfortunate incident forced him to bowl only five overs before leaving the field in discomfort. Demonstrating remarkable grit, he later returned to bat during a middle-order collapse, scoring a crucial seven runs off seven deliveries and forming an important partnership with KL Rahul to help India secure victory in that match.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially confirmed that Sundar reported acute onset of discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling. This injury has already ruled him out of the last two ODIs against New Zealand and the ongoing five-match T20I series against the same opponent.
Medical Assessment and Recovery Timeline
According to sources within the BCCI, the medical team has advised Sundar to undergo two additional weeks of complete rest to ensure proper recovery. This timeline creates a serious conflict with India's T20 World Cup schedule, as the team is set to play its first tournament match against the USA in Mumbai on February 7.
The chances of Sundar being fully fit by that crucial date appear increasingly bleak, putting both the senior selection committee and team management in a difficult position. They must now decide whether to keep him in the squad with hopes of late recovery or seek a replacement player.
Historical Context and Backup Plans
This injury represents particularly cruel timing for the 26-year-old all-rounder. Since making his international debut in 2017, Sundar has already missed two previous T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022 due to various injuries. This year marked the first time he had been included in a World Cup squad, making the current situation especially disappointing.
The Indian team management has prudently kept Ravi Bishnoi as a standby player should Sundar fail to recover in time. India is scheduled to play two warm-up games before the tournament begins, but even participation in these preparatory matches appears uncertain for the injured all-rounder.
Parallel Development: Tilak Varma's Recovery Progress
In related team news, left-handed batter Tilak Varma is expected to be fit and available for India's fifth and final T20I against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram on January 31. Varma underwent abdominal surgery during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot and was initially advised two weeks of rest.
The batter is currently pushing hard to regain fitness at the Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. However, the team management appears more focused on ensuring his complete recovery for the T20 World Cup rather than rushing his return for the series finale against New Zealand.
The BCCI had previously stated that Varma would resume physical training and gradually return to skill-based activities once his symptoms fully resolve and wound healing becomes satisfactory. His availability for the remaining T20I matches will be assessed based on his progress during the return-to-training phases.
