In a significant blow to India’s bowling department, all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand due to a side strain.
The injury occurred during the series opener at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday, where Sundar reported acute discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling.
Although the 26-year-old showed immense grit by returning to bat at No. 8 and finishing the game alongside KL Rahul to secure a four-wicket win for India, the medical assessment has since confirmed that he will require further scans and expert opinion. Consequently, he will miss the remaining two matches of the series to undergo rehabilitation.
Speaking to the broadcaster after the match, Rahul said: "I didn't know he (Washington) couldn't run. I knew he had a bit of an injury in the first innings, but I wasn't aware of the extent. That said, he was striking the ball really well. When he came in, we were already going at about a run-a-ball, so there was no need to take unnecessary risks. There wasn't too much pressure on him. He rotated the strike and did his job."
Following the injury withdrawal of spin-allrounder Washington Sundar, the BCCI has announced his replacement. The board has called up Delhi’s domestic sensation Ayush Badoni to join the squad.
This marks Badoni’s maiden call-up to the national team. He is expected to join the squad in Rajkot, the venue for the second ODI.
Badoni, the 26-year-old Delhi all-rounder, brings a solid track record from the domestic circuit, having scored 693 runs in 27 List A matches at an average of 36.47, a tally that includes one century and five fifties.
Known for his explosive middle-order batting, he is also an effective spin option with 18 List A wickets to his name.
While he is a familiar face in the IPL, playing for the Lucknow Super Giants—where he has scored 963 runs across 56 matches—his bowling has been used sparingly in the tournament, yielding 4 wickets from just seven innings.
Comments (0)