Washington Sundar Ruled Out of ODI Series Due to Injury
Injury Update on Washington Sundar
During the first ODI match between India and New Zealand held in Vadodara, Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar sustained an injury, leading to his exclusion from the entire ODI series. Reports indicate that Sundar has suffered an injury to his lower left rib area, prompting the medical team to recommend rest.
An official statement from the BCCI revealed that Sundar experienced sudden pain while bowling, which forced him to leave the field during New Zealand's innings. He did not return for fielding afterward. Notably, despite his discomfort, he batted at number eight during India's innings and contributed to the team's victory, as India won the match by four wickets.
Ayush Badoni, a 26-year-old player, has been performing consistently well in domestic cricket. He has accumulated runs at an average of 36.47 in 27 List-A matches, including one century and five half-centuries. While primarily recognized as a batsman, he has also been working on his lower-order batting and off-spin bowling recently.
In the current Vijay Hazare Trophy season, Badoni has bowled 22 overs in three innings for Delhi, claiming four wickets with an economy rate of 3.59, showcasing his all-round capabilities. Although he hasn't scored big runs this season, he has previously played valuable innings coming in at number five or lower.
Regarding his IPL experience, Ayush Badoni has played 56 matches for the Lucknow Super Giants, gaining valuable experience batting under pressure. The team management is optimistic that he can replicate this confidence on the international stage.
It is noteworthy that Washington Sundar is the third Indian player to be injured on this tour. Earlier, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the ODI series due to a side strain, while Tilak Varma will miss the initial matches of the upcoming T20 series due to a groin injury.
After the first ODI, Indian captain Shubman Gill provided updates on Sundar's injury, mentioning that he would undergo a scan post-match. Following Vadodara, Team India will play the remaining ODIs in Rajkot and Indore, before shifting focus to the T20 series, which is considered crucial for preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka.