Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar's national comeback will be delayed further as he will miss the three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe due to a shoulder injury he sustained recently while playing for Lancashire in the Royal London Cup.

"Yes, Washington Sundar is ruled out of the Zimbabwe series. He has suffered an injury on his left shoulder while fielding during Royal London Cup game between Lancashire and Worcestershire at Old Trafford. He will have to undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy," a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The last 12 months have been difficult for Sundar as he has sustained one injury after another, missing out on almost every India assignment as well as part of the IPL 2022 where he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Sundar first suffered a broken finger in July last year, when batting for a County XI against Indians in a tour match ahead of the Test series between India and England. That injury meant he was out of competitive cricket till January, when he was picked in India's ODI side for the tour of South Africa but was ruled out due to COVID-19.

He returned to play three ODIs against West Indies before suffering a hamstring injury which then forced him to miss the T20Is against Sri Lanka. During IPL 2022, he missed five games due to a split webbing.

After an extensive rehabilitation program, Sundar landed a County stint with Lancashire with some help from BCCI, and started well with a five-wicket haul on his county debut but again hurt his shoulder when he landed heavily on it during the 50-over competition, the Royal London Cup.

"You feel for Washi. Such a talented guy. Somehow or the other, the rub of the green isn't going his way. He needs some luck. The latest injury is a freak one as he was just about to play for India in a week," another official privy to the development told PTI.

India will play in three ODIs against Zimbabwe, from August 18-22 in Harare.