India’s injury concerns deepened on Sunday after all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series against New Zealand due to a rib injury sustained during the opening match in Vadodara. The setback comes at a time when the Indian camp is already grappling with multiple fitness issues ahead of a busy home season.
Washington Sundar ruled out of ODI leg due to rib injury
The 26-year-old picked up discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling in the first ODI. Sundar managed to complete five overs, conceding 27 runs, but was forced to walk off the field midway through the New Zealand innings. He did not return to field for the rest of the innings, raising early concerns among the team management and medical staff.
Despite the injury, Sundar displayed commendable resilience by walking out to bat at No. 8 during India’s chase. Clearly in discomfort, he still contributed in a tense phase of the match as India went on to secure a four-wicket victory. However, post-match assessments confirmed that the injury required careful monitoring, leading to his eventual exclusion from the remaining games.
Notably, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development, stating that Sundar had been ruled out following the onset of pain in the rib region. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to avoid aggravating the injury, especially with a long international calendar ahead.
“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. He will undergo further scans, following which the BCCI Medical Team will seek expert opinion. Washington has been ruled out of the remaining two matches of the ODI series,” read the statement from BCCI.
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Replacement announced for Sundar
Following Sundar’s exclusion from the ODI series, BCCI confirmed that the Men’s Selection Committee has named Ayush Badoni as his replacement in the squad. The young all-rounder has been drafted in to bolster India’s options ahead of the remaining two matches of the series. Badoni is expected to join the team in Rajkot, which will host the second ODI on January 14, and will be available for selection as the team management reshuffles its combination following Sundar’s injury.
“The Men’s Selection Committee has named Ayush Badoni as his replacement. Badoni will link up with the squad in Rajkot, the venue for the second ODI,” added BCCI.
Mounting injury list worries India
Sundar is the third Indian player to be hit by injury concerns in quick succession. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was earlier ruled out of the ODI series after suffering a side strain, while young batter Tilak Varma will miss the first three T20Is following groin surgery. The growing list of unavailable players has added pressure on the team management as they aim to manage workloads without compromising performance.
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