India suffered a setback in its ongoing ODI series against New Zealand as all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out due to a side strain.
The injury occurred during the series opener in Vadodara on Sunday. Sundar bowled five overs before leaving the field in discomfort. He did not return for the remainder of New Zealand’s innings, leaving India with only one bowler completing a full quota of ten overs.
Despite his condition, Sundar walked out to bat at No. 8 during India’s tense chase of 301. He struggled to move freely but held one end as KL Rahul guided India to victory in the penultimate over.
Sportstar understands that Sundar will need around two weeks to recover. His absence rules him out of the remaining ODIs and casts doubt over his availability for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. He is unlikely to feature in the initial T20Is, creating further concerns for the team management ahead of the Men’s T20 World Cup.
India already faces another setback with Tilak Varma sidelined for the first three T20Is. With both Sundar and Tilak racing against time to regain fitness, the team’s preparation for the World Cup has become increasingly complicated.
The Indian squad will hope both players recover quickly, as the team begins its T20 World Cup campaign in Mumbai on February 7. Their fitness will be crucial to India’s balance and depth in the lead-up to the global tournament.
