Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar has suffered another setback as he has now been ruled out of the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand due to a side strain, adding to India’s growing injury concerns ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The 26-year-old was already sidelined from the ongoing three-match ODI series, with the injury occurring during the opening ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11.
Sundar picked up the strain while bowling in the first ODI but showed admirable grit by walking out to bat at No. 8 during India’s challenging 301-run chase. Despite visible discomfort, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder remained unbeaten on 7 off 7 balls, underlining his commitment to the team.
However, medical assessments have since confirmed that the injury will keep him out for a longer period. According to a PTI report quoting a BCCI source, Sundar will not recover in time for the T20I series, which begins on January 21 in Nagpur.
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“Washington Sundar has been ruled out from the T20I series against New Zealand due to a side strain,” a BCCI official confirmed on Wednesday. His absence raises concerns over his readiness for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7.
Sundar, who has featured in 58 T20Is for India, was named in the 15-member T20 World Cup squad on December 20, 2025. While the injury is not being termed serious at this stage, it does put his participation in the global tournament under scrutiny, especially with limited recovery time remaining.
Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar are doubtful for the 2026 T20 World Cup because of injuries. 🇮🇳
T20 World Cup starts in February, lot of injury headaches for Team India.#TilakVarma #WashingtonSundar #T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/W8zjsU5Sth
— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) January 15, 2026
He is the second World Cup-bound player to miss the T20I series against the Black Caps. Earlier, Tilak Varma was ruled out of the first three T20Is after undergoing surgery for a groin injury. Sundar had already been replaced by Ayush Badoni in the ODI squad, and the selectors are now expected to name a replacement for the T20Is.
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India’s T20I squad already includes specialist spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy, easing immediate concerns. However, as a spin-bowling all-rounder, Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed could emerge as a strong replacement option. The 31-year-old has prior international experience and was recently drafted in during India’s T20I series against South Africa, making him a familiar and reliable backup.
