India all-rounder Washington Sundar is facing a race against time to recuperate from a side strain, together with his rehabilitation more likely to take one other two weeks, putting his availability for the T20 World Cup 2026 in serious doubt. He picked up the injury in the course of the first ODI against Recent Zealand in Vadodara and was subsequently ruled out of the remaining of the ODI series, in addition to the T20I leg. M
Sundar had to go away the sector after bowling just five overs and appeared visibly uncomfortable when he got here out to bat in the course of the closing moments of a tense run chase. As per a report in The Indian Express, the team management and selection committee are expected to take a call soon regarding a possible last-minute substitute.
“He needs two more weeks to be completely fit. The medical team has advised him to rest for 2 weeks more. The senior selection committee and team management could have to take a call on whether to proceed with him or have a substitute,” a BCCI source said.
Team India brought in Ravi Bishnoi as Washington Sundar’s substitute for the T20I series. The wrist-spinner seized the chance, producing a match-winning spell of two for 18 within the third T20I against Recent Zealand in Guwahati, marking a powerful return after an 11-month absence.
Washington Sundar played six T20Is for India in 2025
The all-rounder served as a very important backup option in India’s T20I setup, providing balance and depth, and featured in six matches in 2025. He scored 93 runs at 31 with a strike rate of 145.31 and took 4 wickets at a mean of 14.25. Team India are currently grappling with an injury crunch ahead of the World Cup, with Tilak Varma and Axar Patel joining Washington Sundar on the sidelines.
Reports suggest Tilak Varma is edging closer to a comeback ahead of the decisive phase of the T20I series against Recent Zealand, while there was no official update on the extent of Axar Patel’s finger injury sustained within the series opener.
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