India have been dealt a major blow midway through their ODI series against New Zealand, with all-rounder Washington Sundar officially ruled out of the remaining two matches.
The setback comes after the
26-year-old suffered a side strain during the opening ODI in Vadodara, where he pulled up in visible discomfort midway through his spell at the BCA Stadium.
Sundar had bowled just five overs-conceding 27 runs-before leaving the field, immediately raising alarm within the Indian camp. Although he later returned to bat at No. 8 and played a steady hand in India's successful four-wicket chase, the severity of his discomfort became clearer after the match. Captain Shubman Gill confirmed that Sundar had sustained a side strain and would require further medical assessment.
On Monday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) put an end to speculation by issuing an official statement. The board revealed that Sundar experienced an "acute onset of pain" in his left lower rib area while bowling on Sunday and would undergo additional scans. The medical team will seek specialist guidance before charting his recovery timeline.
To fill the void, the selectors have turned to 26-year-old Ayush Badoni, rewarding the Lucknow Super Giants star with his maiden India call-up. Badoni, a consistent performer in domestic cricket and a dependable presence for LSG since his IPL debut in 2022, joins the squad as Sundar's replacement for the remaining two fixtures.
He was also part of the India A Squad for the ODI series against South Africa A recently. He played two matches and even scored 66 runs in the only match, he got a chance to bat.
This marks the second injury setback for India in the ongoing series. Ahead of the series opener, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was ruled out due to an oblique muscle tear sustained during net practice, prompting Dhruv Jurel's inclusion in the squad.
India will now have to recalibrate their playing combinations as they prepare for the second ODI in Rajkot on January 14, followed by the final match in Indore on January 18. With Sundar sidelined and an uncapped Badoni stepping in, the visitors find themselves navigating an unexpected reshuffle at a crucial juncture of the series.
