India's spin-bowling all-rounder, Washington Sundar, faces the prospect of missing multiple games after he injured his left shoulder while participating in a Royal London One-Day match between Lancashire and Worcestershire at Old Trafford in Manchester on August 10 (Wednesday).
The Tamil Nadu all-rounder, who was named in India's 15-member squad that will face Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series, was scheduled to travel from the U.K. and join the rest of the squad in Zimbabwe. However, the recent development has raised doubts over the 22-year-old's chances of returning to the national set-up.
Lancashire Cricket, the club Sundar was representing, on August 10 (Wednesday) posted “@Sundarwashi5 has left the field after receiving treatment on his left shoulder following a heavy landing.”
Team India, led by KL Rahul who was recently deemed fit and included in the squad, is slated to leave for Zimbabwe on August 14 (Sunday). The Men in Blue will be coached by the Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), VVS Laxman, as regular coach Rahul Dravid has been rested for this tour.
The first of three encounters between India and Zimbabwe is scheduled to be played on August 18 at the Harare Sports Club. Thus, Sundar has less than a week to regain full fitness in order to present a solid case for his selection in the playing XI.
Sundar, who has represented India in all three formats for the game, last played for the country in an ODI game versus West Indies on February 11, 2022. Since then, the all-rounder's selection has been hindered by injuries.
The right-arm off-spinner and left-handed batter's IPL 2022 campaign was restricted to just nine matches after he picked up a hand injury while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The dreaded COVID-19 and a hamstring injury had earlier hampered Sundar to play cricket.
