Sundar suffered a rib injury during the series opener in Vadodara on January 11.
India all-rounder Washington Sundar will reportedly not feature in the five-T20I series against New Zealand that will start following the ongoing three-match ODI series between two teams.
Sundar, who suffered a rib injury during the series opener in Vadodara on January 11 and was ruled out of the last two ODIs, will now miss the T20 series as well which will be the dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup 2026 starting next month.
“It is understood that with Washington part of the T20 World Cup squad, the team management didn’t want to risk him in the series against New Zealand. Initially, it was expected that Washington could play in the later part of the series. However, he will not feature in the series, but there is a likelihood he could join the team at later stages with an eye on the T20 World Cup,” The Indian Express reported on Wednesday (January 14).
Sundar managed to bowl just five overs during New Zealand's innings in the first ODI. The left-hander, who later came out to bat at No. 8, was visibly struggling to run between the wickets but chipped in with a valuable run-a-ball 7 not out, adding 27* in 16 balls with KL Rahul for the seventh wicket to take India over the line with four wickets and an over to spare in the chase of 301.
A day after the game, the BCCI issued a statement, confirming that the spin-bowling all-rounder sustained a rib injury and was ruled out of the remainder of the series. The selection committee named Ayush Badoni as his replacement.
“Washington Sundar reported an acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on Sunday,” the board’s statement read.
The injury setbacks have previously denied Washington Sundar a chance to participate in T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022. This is the first time he has been included in a T20 World Cup squad.