New Delhi: In a major blow to the India T20I team, less than a month before the World Cup, all-rounder Washington Sundar is racing against time to be fit for the multi-nation event which begins on February 7. The 26-year-old is all but certain to miss the five-T20I series vs New Zealand from January 21 and would need a speedy recovery to be on the park for the World Cup.TimesofIndia.com has learnt that the injury is “serious” and would require rigorous rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).
It is further understood that Sundar is likely to reach the Bengaluru facility after the festivities back home, and will commence the road to recovery this weekend.“The initial assessment and impression was of a regular side strain but it looks much more serious than that at this stage. A thorough assessment at the CoE will give more clarity on the timelines. He will be reaching the facility this weekend and then the BCCI medical team will chart the way forward. There is pain at the moment and it’s an acute injury. But the grading and all will be revealed only at CoE, who would then decide the various RTP protocols,” says a source aware of developments.Teams are allowed to make changes to their World Cup squads until January 31 and the Indian team management will be keeping a close tab on Sundar’s progress. He has already been ruled out of the ongoing three-ODI series vs New Zealand, and it now remains to be seen whether Ayush Badoni will come in as his replacement in the five T20Is as well.The timing of Sundar’s injury comes just before the T20 World Cup and will pose a serious headache for the selectors. There have been instances in the past where they have exercised patience when it comes to crucial players and it will be interesting to see whether the same route is followed for Sundar.“Sundar is a very crucial player for the Indian team. He is a three format player, played domestic games before the ODI series and the last thing you would want is to rush him back. The medical team needs to ascertain whether it’s just a side strain or something with the ribs. Only an expert can answer that. If you remember, the management was very patient with Shubman Gill when he had dengue during the 2023 World Cup. Australia carried an injured Travis Head and didn’t name a replacement. So if there is a possibility of Sundar featuring even in the later half of the tournament, the think tank will stick to him,” said a BCCI official.“But if the early thorough assessment gives a timeline which is out of bounds, then selectors will surely swing in their Plan B,” added the official.Sundar was in a lot of pain during the first ODI vs New Zealand where he could bowl only five overs and struggled when he came out to bat in the 47th over of the chase.
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“India all-rounder Washington Sundar reported an acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on Sunday. He will undergo further scans, following which the BCCI Medical Team will seek expert opinion,” read a BCCI statement.India next play New Zealand in the third ODI on January 18 before the focus shifts to the T20 World Cup preparations, starting with the five-match series vs the same opposition from January 21.
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