Top News

The Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar is all set to be back for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup hosted in India and Sri Lanka. Washington, who has missed the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand due to an acute lower rib injury, is set to recover fully in 2 weeks.

India will play their first match on February 7, at the Wakhede Stadium against the USA. Before that, India will be playing two warm-up matches. As per the given timeline, Washington may miss the warm-up matches; however, he is likely to be present with the team for the main matches.

An Indian Express report on January 26 quoted a BCCI source claiming that the medical team is taking care of Washington Sundar. The team has also assured that he will be fit within two weeks. However, if BCCI continues with Washington or announces a replacement will be decided later. The source said,

“He needs two more weeks to be completely fit. The medical team has advised him to rest for two weeks more. The senior selection committee and team management will have to take a call on whether to continue with him or have a replacement.”

Read also: Abhishek Sharma’s Electric Fifty Stuns New Zealand

Washington Sundar was added to the Indian squad for both the ODI and the T20I series against New Zealand. However, in the very first ODI, Washing had to leave the field after feeling discomfort in his lower abdomen. By that time Washington had bowled five overs with no wickets.

Not only that, after a middle order collapse, he came to bat with KL Rahul, did his part by rotating strikes, but little did KL know about his partner's conditions. KL even accepted that in the post-match presentation, followed by the captain of the side Shubman Gill, saying in the post-match pressy that Washi has been taken for scans.

Later, BCCI, in an official statement, informed that Washington has been detected with an acute onset of discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling. Ayush Badoni was added to the team as Washi's replacement in the last two ODI matches, but the T20 side carried on without replacements, indicating the team's faith in his recovery.

Meanwhile, the middle-order rookie, Tilak Varma is expected to be back for the final T20I match in the ongoing series against New Zealand. The match has been scheduled at Rajkot on January 31.

He underwent an abdominal surgery during the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy and was partially ruled out from the T20I series. The Indian Express reports claimed that batter is trying his best at the BCCI Centre of Excellence to come back before time, but team management wants him to be easy with his body. The main aim is to get Tilak fully fit for the 2026 T20 World Cup, keeping aside the T20I series.