Kris Srikkanth Raises Concerns Over Washington Sundar's Fitness Ahead of Afghanistan T20 Series

Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth has raised concerns about Washington Sundar's fitness and selection for the upcoming T20 series against Afghanistan. He argues that Sundar should have played competitive cricket to prove his fitness, especially given his history of injuries. The series is set to begin on September 13, with matches taking place in New Delhi. Srikkanth's comments highlight the ongoing debate about player readiness and selection criteria in international cricket. As Sundar returns to the squad alongside Jasprit Bumrah, fans are eager to see how the team performs.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 4, 2026, 21:27 IST

Srikkanth Questions Sundar's Selection

Kris Srikkanth, a former cricketer for India, has expressed doubts regarding Washington Sundar's fitness and selection for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Afghanistan. He believes that Sundar should have participated in competitive matches prior to being chosen for the national team. Srikkanth also highlighted Sundar's ongoing injury issues, suggesting that the all-rounder has lost his form in white-ball cricket, despite successfully transitioning to Test cricket. Sundar, along with fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, is set to return to the squad, pending fitness evaluations. The team also features all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and pacer Harshit Rana. The series is scheduled to commence on September 13, with the second T20I on September 15 and the final match on September 17, all taking place at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi.

Concerns Over Match Fitness

"He has performed well in Tests but did not play in Sri Lanka. How can he be fit in just two weeks? He hasn't demonstrated his match fitness, so what is the rationale behind his selection? Players need to participate in matches at some level to validate their fitness before being chosen for India. A doctor's certificate alone isn't sufficient. Washington Sundar seems to sustain injuries every few series," Srikkanth remarked on his YouTube channel.

"He faced significant challenges in Ireland and England. Although he began his career in T20 cricket and made a smooth transition to Test matches, he appears to have lost his touch in white-ball formats," he added.

In July, Sundar sustained a hamstring injury during the third ODI against England and has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence (COE) since then.

India's Squad for the Afghanistan T20 Series

The Indian squad for the T20 series against Afghanistan includes: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana*.