Suryakumar Yadav Gives Huge Update on Washington Sundar's Fitness: 'Washi Is Joining Us In...'

Suryakumar Yadav provided an update on Washington Sundar’s fitness and availability for India’s next game at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

After India defeated the United States of America by 29 runs in their opening group stage game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday, SKY revealed that the all-rounder will join the team ahead of their next match against Namibia, which is scheduled for Thursday (February 12) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

“Washi is joining us in Delhi,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation.

“He’s good. Everything is fine,” he added.

Washington had sustained a side strain and rib muscle tear during the ODI series against New Zealand, which led him to miss the T20I series in preparation for the T20 World

Cup. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder underwent an intensive rehabilitation programme and adhered to all Return To Play protocols before being cleared to return by the medical and sports science team. For nearly a week now, he has been batting and bowling without significant difficulty at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Suryakumar, also asked about Jasprit Bumrah and why he missed out on the game in Mumbai and if he will be fine to continue, he said: “Everything is fine. Bumrah, he was having high fever due to because of weather.”

Even opener Abhishek Sharma was “under the weather”.

Abhishek did not field, with 12th man Sanju Samson taking over the fielding duties for an extended period.

Siraj Strikes On Return

Mohammed Siraj, who joined the team late Friday evening as a replacement for the unwell Jasprit Bumrah, bowled a fuller Test match length, taking two wickets in his first spell and finishing with figures of 3/29 in 4 overs.

Suryakumar’s 49-ball unbeaten 84, which had 10 fours and four sixes after being dropped on 15, took India as far as 161/9 from their 20 overs.

“Only I can tell actually at the position which we were in, 77 for 6, how much pressure I was feeling. But then at the same time, I had that belief that I have batted in similar situations. And also when I have played my lot of cricket here in Maidans of Mumbai cricket, Azad Maidan, Cross Maidan. So I knew that if I bat till the end, I can make a difference,” he said.

“I always felt that there was a need for a batter to bat till the end. I never felt that it was a 180-190 wicket. I felt it was a 140 wicket. But then Gauti bhai told me the same thing during the break after the 14 overs. He told me, just try and bat till the end, you can cover it any time. And also, most important thing, I have played a lot of my cricket in Bombay, this wicket and also maidans of Mumbai cricket. So I know how to bat on similar kind of wickets,” he had said minutes earlier, while accepting the player of the match award.

(With inputs from Agencies)