Team India has been dealt a sucker punch two days before the Zimbabwe series. Star all-rounder Washington Sundar, who was getting ready to make a come back to the national side after a lengthy lay-off due to injuries, has suffered another setback. The right-arm spinner has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series due to an injury to his left shoulder.
"Yes, Washington Sundar is ruled out of the Zimbabwe series," a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Sundar sustained an injury 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 was scheduled to travel from the U.K. and join the rest of the squad in Zimbabwe. But owing to the latest injury, the left-handed batter will return to India.
"He will have to undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy," the senior BCCI source added.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced Bengal all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed as Sundar's replacement. Ahmed performed brilliantly for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022. The left-handed batter made some handy contributions with the bat lower down the order and finished the tournament with 219 runs in 16 matches. Ahmed, who is more than a handy left-arm orthodox spin bowler, also bagged four wickets in the cash-rich league.
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.”
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.
The first of three encounters between India and Zimbabwe is scheduled to be played on August 18 at the Harare Sports Club.
