Overview
- Washington Sundar sustained a side/rib strain in the first ODI in Vadodara, bowled five overs before leaving the field, then batted at No. 8 for 7 off 7 while struggling to run.
- India ruled Sundar out of the rest of the ODI series, with uncapped Ayush Badoni named as his replacement.
- Mohammad Kaif called sending Sundar to bat a wrong call and contrasted it with the recent decision to keep an injured Shubman Gill from batting as a precaution.
- Kaif warned that playing through injury could prolong recovery and said India could have sent Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj or Prasidh Krishna instead, while KL Rahul later said he was unaware Sundar could not run.
- Badoni’s selection drew social-media accusations of favoritism linked to Gautam Gambhir’s past IPL ties, and Sundar’s fitness is now a concern for the upcoming T20I series and the T20 World Cup squad plans.