Star all-rounder Washington Sundar‘s exclusion from the forthcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand has been a blow to India’s preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. With Tilak Varma battling to get to full health, the development, which comes just weeks before the World Cup starts, has increased India’s injury fears.
During the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara, Sundar suffered a side strain. Due to pain in his left lower rib area, the right-arm spinner departed the pitch after bowling just five overs in the first innings. After India’s late collapse, Sundar entered the chase despite uncertainty about whether he would bat. He stayed till the very finish, scoring seven runs off seven balls to help the Men in Blue win by four wickets.
Ayush Badoni was picked as the all-rounder’s substitute after scans revealed that he will miss the rest of the ODI series. The medical staff has now recommended that he take at least two weeks off, despite the initial expectation that he might return for the latter portion of the T20I series.
To start his recuperation, Washington Sundar will travel to BCCI’s CoE.
India would suffer greatly from Washington Sundar absence from the New Zealand T20Is, which begin on January 21. The all-rounder will go to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to start his recuperation after being ruled out due to a side strain, according to a BCCI official.
Washington Sundar now has a race against time to get healthy again because the T20 World Cup is scheduled to start on February 7. Considering the wider situation, the team management has decided not to risk him in the bilateral series. However, he might eventually become a member of the team.
In recent years, the 26-year-old has emerged as one of India’s most potent T20I all-rounders. In 16 innings, he has taken 20 wickets at an economy rate of 6.16 and an average of 13.05. He has given the lower order more depth with the bat, as evidenced by his game-winning 49* off 23 balls in Australia.
Meanwhile, concerns over Tilak Varma’s fitness are growing in India. The left-hander had already been ruled out of the first few Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand after undergoing surgery for a stomach problem.
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