Washington Sundar has missed the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand due to a rib injury sustained during the first ODI in Vadodara. The injury, which requires at least two more weeks of rest, threatens his participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 starting soon. Meanwhile, Tilak Varma is pushing to recover for the series finale.
Washington Sundar experienced an acute onset of discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI in Vadodara, limiting him to just five overs before leaving the field. Despite the injury, he returned to bat amid India's middle-order collapse, scoring seven runs off seven deliveries and forming a crucial partnership with KL Rahul that helped secure the win.
The BCCI has advised Sundar to rest for two more weeks. A BCCI source stated, “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.”
India's opening T20 World Cup match is against the USA in Mumbai on February 7, 2026, and Sundar's prospects of being fit appear bleak. The team has kept Ravi Bishnoi as a standby player. Since his international debut in 2017, Sundar has missed the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups due to injuries; this was his first inclusion in a World Cup squad.
Meanwhile, left-handed batter Tilak Varma, who underwent abdominal surgery during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot, is working hard at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to regain fitness. He is expected to be available for the fifth T20I against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram on January 31, 2026, though the management prioritizes his full recovery for the World Cup over rushing him back. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said, “He is ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand. His availability for the remaining two matches will be assessed based on his progress during the return-to-training and skill phases.”
