Washington Sundar to miss IND vs ENG 3rd ODI, Kuldeep Yadav to be announced as replacement

India has dealt a selection blow ahead of third and final ODI against England at Lord's, with all-rounder Washington Sundar ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Sundar picked up the injury during Thursday's second ODI in Cardiff and was unable to take the field during the second innings. To fill the void left by his absence, team management is reportedly contemplating drafting in left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Washington Sundar ruled out of 3rd ODI vs England

The injury marred a difficult outing for Sundar at Sophia Gardens, where he managed just two runs off five balls. He was spotted receiving medical attention and having his thigh heavily strapped by the team physio during a break in play, before walking off the field in clear distress after his dismissal.

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Detailing the incident, India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak revealed that Sundar hurt his hamstring while taking a quick single to mid-off early in his innings. Kotak expressed concern over the severity of the issue, noting that the all-rounder looked to be in immense pain immediately before getting out on the very next delivery.

Sundar has evolved into a vital, multi-format asset for the national side. His value was on full display in the opening ODI against England, where he sealed victory with a six that simultaneously brought up his half-century. With the series currently locked at 1-1, India deeply misses the crucial batting depth he provides. Compounding the issue, the touring squad lacks a direct replacement for his specific skill set, especially with fellow all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Hardik Pandya already sidelined due to injuries.

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This selection dilemma forces India to look at alternative team combinations for the final match at Lord's. If fitness allows, management could bolster the batting by including both KL Rahul, who missed the second game through illness, and his replacement Ishan Kishan, provided they are comfortable sacrificing Washington's bowling overs. Alternatively, they must turn to Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist-spinner is looking for a career reset after a challenging 2026 IPL season, which has seen him feature in just one of India’s last 13 international fixtures across all formats.

Kuldeep Yadav in line to replace Washington Sundar

Despite his recent lack of game time, Kuldeep remains one of India's premier white-ball weapons, sitting comfortably among the nation's top 10 ODI wicket-takers with 194 scalps from 121 appearances. When in rhythm, his ability to deceive both right and left-handed batters with drift and turn makes him an elite threat. However, his limited contributions with the bat have historically made it difficult for him to cement a permanent spot in the starting eleven when the team prioritizes lower-order runs.