India all-rounder Washington Sundar sustained a rib injury in the series opener in Vadodara and will not play in the ODI series against New Zealand.
Midway through the New Zealand innings, the 26-year-old, who bowled five overs for 27 runs, left the field and did not return on Sunday. He eventually batted at No. 8 as India won by four wickets despite the discomfort.
“Washington has been ruled out due to onset on discomfort in his left lower rib area,” PTI quoted a BCCI official as saying.
Washington is the third Indian player to sustain an injury. Tilak Varma will miss the first three Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand owing to a groin injury that necessitated surgery, while wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was sidelined for the current series after sustaining a side strain last week.
After India’s victory on Sunday, India captain Shubman Gill had provided an update on Washington.
“Washington Sundar has a side strain and will go for a scan after the match,” Gill said at the post-match presentation.
Ayush Badoni, a young batter from Delhi, was picked as Sundar’s unexpected substitute for the last two ODIs, earning him his first call-up to the Indian squad. In the current Vijay Hazare Trophy, he has only scored 16 runs in three innings while taking four wickets in 22 overs bowled in five games.
