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Key Takeaways
- 1📊 Sundar injured bowling in Vadodara ODI
- 2🏆 Badoni's first India ODI squad call-up
- 3💡 Scans pending for T20 WC squad member
- 4🔮 Rajkot ODI key test for India's depth
"The co-hosts have been dealt a blow in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, with key all-rounder ruled out due to injury."
India's T20 World Cup dreams face an early jolt as key all-rounder Washington Sundar is ruled out of the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand with acute discomfort in his left lower rib.
The co-hosts suffered the blow during the first ODI at BCA Stadium in Vadodara, where Sundar felt pain while bowling. He'll undergo scans, with the BCCI Medical Team consulting experts to gauge the damage ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 squad commitments.
Badoni Steps Up for Maiden Call-Up
Ayush Badoni, the promising 24-year-old, earns his first ODI cap as Sundar's replacement and will join the squad in Rajkot for the second match. Badoni's inclusion adds fresh energy, but fans are holding breath over Sundar's recovery—the off-spinner's T20 nous is gold for Men in Blue's home World Cup charge.
Sundar's absence tests India's depth in the spin-all-rounder role, vital for subcontinent conditions. With the series locked at 1-0 after a thrilling opener, Rajkot becomes a crunch point. The nation prays for a swift comeback, echoing past injury battles that Team India has overcome with grit.
