Sundar suffered a rib injury during the series opener in Vadodara on January 11.
India all-rounder Washington Sundar has resumed batting practice as part of his rehabilitation at the BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, TOI reported on Wednesday (January 28).
According to the report, the session lasted for about 30 minutes. While it was a positive step forward in Sundar’s recovery process, discomfort around his rib area continues to persist.
Sundar has been out of competitive action since suffering a rib injury during the ODI series opener against New Zealand in Vadodara on January 11. He was initially ruled out of the last two ODIs, before being sidelined from the entire five-T20I series against the Kiwis.
Before checking into the CoE for rehabilitation, Sundar consulted Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, who initially diagnosed an internal oblique muscle tear but later confirmed a mild fracture after follow-up examinations.
Considering the current state of his recovery, it seems highly unlikely that the 26-year-old will regain fitness ahead of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
However, the Indian team management is likely to take a cautious approach toward his return. A thorough assessment could be conducted in early February to determine his readiness in line with Return To Play (RTP) protocols.
Ravi Bishnoi was drafted into the T20I squad after Washington Sundar failed to recover in time for New Zealand series.
"There are still over 15 days for India's match vs Pakistan in the World Cup. Sundar is very much in the mix and the plans as of now and a call will only be taken when there is no possibility of return. He was picked for the matchups vs left-handers and that is why Ravi Bishnoi has been tried. There aren't many options of off-spinners and bowling all-rounders available at the moment," TOI quoted a source tracking developments.
The BCCI had released a statement on Sundar's injury ahead of the New Zealand T20Is. "Washington Sundar underwent scans after reporting an acute onset discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on 11 January. This was followed by an in-person consultation with an expert. He has been diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised rest for a few days, following which he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further management of his injury," read the statement issued on January 16.