India's preparations for the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand have been hit by a fresh injury concern. All-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the remaining matches, paving the way for a maiden national call-up for young Lucknow batter Ayush Badoni.
Another Bowling All-Rounder Sidelined
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development in an official statement on Monday. Washington Sundar sustained the injury during the first ODI at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara. The 26-year-old bowling all-rounder experienced acute discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling his spell.
He was forced to leave the field midway through the New Zealand innings. Although Sundar later returned to bat at number eight, scoring seven runs in India's four-wicket victory, subsequent medical assessment has ended his participation in the series. The BCCI stated that he will undergo additional scans, with the medical team seeking expert opinion on the next steps.
Badoni's Big Break: Reward for Domestic Consistency
Sundar's misfortune has opened the door for 24-year-old Ayush Badoni, who received his first-ever call-up to the senior Indian team. The selection committee named the right-handed batter, who also bowls handy right-arm off-spin, as the replacement. Badoni will join the squad in Rajkot ahead of the second ODI.
This call-up is a significant milestone for the Delhi-born player, who represents Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. His selection is a direct reward for his consistent and impactful performances in domestic cricket and the IPL, where he has shown the ability to finish innings under pressure.
Compounding Injury Woes for Team India
This injury adds to India's growing list of concerns in the series. Sundar's exit comes shortly after wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was ruled out with a side strain sustained during training. Pant was replaced in the playing XI for the first match by Dhruv Jurel.
India's captain for the series, Shubman Gill, had hinted at the seriousness of Sundar's issue after the first match, revealing the player had a side strain and would be sent for scans. Sundar had bowled five overs in the opener, conceding 25 runs without taking a wicket.
India's updated squad for the 2nd and 3rd ODIs is: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ayush Badoni.
