Team India spinner Washington Sundar has no time to recover from his rib injury ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Washington needs at least two more weeks to regain full fitness, leaving India’s T20 World Cup plans uncertain.
Suryakumar Yadav’s team is currently playing a five-match T20 series against New Zealand. The defending champions have been placed in Group A along with Pakistan, Namibia, Netherlands and United States of America (USA). They will begin their campaign on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Washington Sundar is racing against time to be fit for the T20 World Cup
According to The Indian Express, Washington Sundar is still not fully fit and will take two more weeks to recover. They have very little time to prepare for the match before India’s first match of the tournament.
The 26-year-old all-rounder could not play in the ongoing five-match T20 series against New Zealand. Leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi was named as his replacement for the New Zealand series.
The Indian Express quoted a BCCI source as saying, “He needs two more weeks to be fully fit. The medical team has advised him to take rest for another two weeks. The senior selection committee and the team management will have to take a decision on whether to continue him or name a replacement.”
Washington Sundar injury update
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier confirmed that Washington Sundar had suffered pain in his left lower rib while bowling during the first ODI. The injury occurred against New Zealand in Vadodara, where he bowled only five overs before leaving the field.
Sundar came to bat later after early wickets fell in India’s middle order. He scored seven runs in seven balls and formed a crucial partnership with KL Rahul, which helped India achieve victory. The 26-year-old player has been ruled out of the remaining matches of the ODI series and the ongoing five-match T20 series.
Sundar has played 58 T20Is for India, taking 51 wickets in 54 innings at an average of 22.76 and an economy rate of 6.91, with his best figures of 3/3. With the bat, he has scored 254 runs in 24 innings at a strike rate of 134.39.
Ravi Bishnoi on standby as Washington Sundar races against time
India are likely to play two practice matches before the T20 World Cup, but Washington Sundar will not be fit in time.
The team management has kept Ravi Bishnoi on standby and if Sundar fails to recover before the tournament, he will be included in the team. Sundar has missed the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups due to injuries.
Meanwhile, Tilak Verma is expected to be available for the tournament. After missing the first three matches, he is likely to join the squad ahead of the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram.
Tilak underwent stomach surgery during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot and was advised two weeks’ rest. He is currently training at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, with the team management focusing on ensuring that he is fully fit for the World Cup.
Also read: India’s batsmen nearing comeback before T20 World Cup 2026, Tilak Verma’s return date fixed
