India’s all-rounder Washington Sundar will miss the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand as he continues to recover from a rib injury sustained during the ODI series opener in Vadodara. The T20I series is scheduled to commence on January 21 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, serving as part of India’s preparations for the T20 World Cup beginning on February 7. It remains uncertain if Sundar will regain full fitness in time for the prestigious tournament.
Sources revealed that Sundar’s recovery timeline indicates he will need a few more weeks to recuperate from the injury suffered in the Vadodara ODI. There is uncertainty surrounding his availability for the T20 World Cup. Sundar is expected to report to the Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Saturday, where he will receive further updates on his rehabilitation progress.
India has faced another setback with Tilak Varma also ruled out of the initial three T20Is of the series due to a groin injury that required surgery. Earlier, Sundar had to withdraw from the ongoing ODI series after experiencing discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling in the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named Ayush Badoni, aged 26, as Sundar’s replacement, marking his debut national call-up.
