India’s spin all-rounder Washington Sundar has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of Indian ODI squad’s departure for South Africa to play three-ODI series. Sundar contracting the virus a day before India were supposed to leave for South Africa puts his participation in the ODI series under threat, a source told Sports Tak.
Sundar tested positive in Bangalore from where he was supposed to travel to Mumbai and join the remaining Indian players of the ODI squad who will board the flight for the rainbow nation late night on January 11.
This was supposed to be Sundar’s comeback to international cricket after getting ruled out due to injury last year. The 21-year-old proved his fitness in domestic cricket playing in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021 for Tamil Nadu. Due to injury, he was even ruled out of the second phase of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
So far, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have not named any replacement for the young all-rounder. However, the selectors are expected to announce the replacement tomorrow. The three-ODI series is expected to start on January 19.
India 17-member squad after Sundar contracting the virus: KL Rahul (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj
