Washington Sundar injury update: All-rounder all but ruled out of T20 World Cup 2026

Team India spinner Washington Sundar is running out of time to recover from his rib injury ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be played from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka. Washington will need at least two more weeks to regain full fitness, leaving India’s T20 World Cup plans uncertain.

Suryakumar Yadav’s team is currently playing a five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The defending champions are placed in Group A with Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States of America (USA). They will open their campaign at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7.

Washington Sundar Racing Against Time To Be Fit For T20 World Cup

According to The Indian Express, Washington Sundar is still not fully fit and will need two more weeks to complete his recovery. He has very little time to get match-ready before India’s first game of the tournament.

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The 26-year-old all-rounder missed the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi was named as his replacement for the New Zealand series.

“He needs two more weeks to be completely fit. The medical team has advised him to rest for another two weeks. The senior selection committee and team management will have to take a call on whether to continue with him or have a replacement," the Indian Express quoted a BCCI source as saying.

Washington Sundar Injury Update

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) earlier confirmed that Washington Sundar suffered pain in his left lower rib while bowling during the first ODI. The injury occurred in Vadodara against New Zealand, where he bowled only five overs before leaving the field.

Sundar later came out to bat after India lost quick wickets in the middle order. He scored seven runs from seven balls and added a key partnership with KL Rahul, which helped India secure a win. The 26-year-old was ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series and the ongoing five-match T20I series.

Sundar has played 58 T20Is for India, taking 51 wickets from 54 innings at an average of 22.76 and an economy rate of 6.91, with best figures of 3/3. With the bat, he has scored 254 runs from 24 innings at a strike rate of 134.39.

Ravi Bishnoi On Standby As Washington Sundar Races Against Time

India are likely to play two warm-up matches before the T20 World Cup, but Washington Sundar may not be fit in time.

The team management have kept Ravi Bishnoi on standby and will include him if Sundar fails to recover before the tournament. Sundar has missed the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups due to injuries.

Meanwhile, Tilak Varma is expected to be available for the tournament. He is likely to join the squad before the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram after missing the first three matches.

Tilak underwent abdominal surgery during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot and was advised two weeks of rest. He is currently training at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, with the team management focused on ensuring he is fully fit for the World Cup.

Also read: Tilak Varma return date finalised as India batter nears comeback ahead of T20 World Cup 2026