Overview
- BCCI confirmed Sundar has a side strain and will miss the five-match T20I series starting Jan. 21, with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi named as his replacement and rehabilitation set at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
- Shreyas Iyer was added for the first three T20Is in place of Tilak Varma, who is recovering after abdominal surgery and remains out for at least the early part of the series.
- Sundar’s availability for the T20 World Cup is uncertain according to multiple reports, and selectors are weighing contingency options with squad changes permitted until Jan. 31.
- Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate questioned Nitish Kumar Reddy’s impact, prompting former players Aakash Chopra, Robin Uthappa and Manoj Tiwary to call for patience with the young all-rounder.
- Scrutiny of selection and roles intensified as R. Ashwin criticized Arshdeep Singh’s ODI omission and India reviewed spin plans after Rajkot ahead of Sunday’s series decider in Indore.