The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that all-rounder Washington Sundar will be absent for the remainder of the ODI series against New Zealand due to a side strain. In his place, 26-year-old Ayush Badoni, with experience in 27 List A games, has been called up for his first national team opportunity. Badoni, known for his 693 runs and 18 wickets in List A matches, will join the team in Rajkot for the second ODI on Wednesday.
India faced another setback with Rishabh Pant ruled out just before the series opener due to a side strain, leading to Dhruv Jurel’s inclusion in the squad. Additionally, Tilak Varma’s absence from the initial T20Is due to surgery for a groin injury adds to India’s injury concerns. The loss of Sundar, a key player in India’s T20 World Cup plans, raises uncertainties about his recovery for the upcoming T20I series.
The updated Indian squad for the 2nd and 3rd ODIs includes Shubman Gill as captain, along with stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. Notably, the absence of Sundar, Pant, and Varma poses challenges for India as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
