In a significant development for the Indian cricket team, the defending champions are grappling with mounting injury concerns as they prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. With the global tournament fast approaching, the co-hosts have suffered a major blow during their ongoing home series against New Zealand, raising questions about the stability of their squad for the upcoming title defense.
Washington Sundar Sidelined with Rib Injury
The most immediate concern for the Indian management revolves around premier all-rounder Washington Sundar. During the opening One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Sundar reported acute discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling his fifth over. Despite the pain, he briefly returned to bat during a tense chase, scoring an unbeaten 7 to help secure a victory for India. However, the discomfort was visible, and subsequent medical evaluations have ruled him out of the remainder of the ODI series.
Sundar’s absence is a tactical nightmare for India. He has been a linchpin in the T20 format, recently boasting an impressive record of 20 wickets from 16 innings with an exceptionally lean economy rate of 6.16. His ability to bowl in the Powerplay and provide explosive batting depth—evidenced by his match-winning 49 not out in Australia—makes him nearly irreplaceable in the current team structure. The BCCI medical team is currently awaiting results from further scans to determine if he will be fit for the five-match T20I series against the Black Caps, which serves as the final dress rehearsal for the World Cup.
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Ayush Badoni Receives Maiden Call-up
In response to Sundar’s injury, the national selectors have turned to youth by naming 24-year-old Ayush Badoni as his replacement for the remainder of the ODI series. Badoni, who has impressed in domestic circuits and the IPL with his finishing abilities and handy off-spin, joined the squad in Rajkot ahead of the second ODI. While this offers Badoni a golden opportunity to stake a claim for a future spot, the loss of Sundar’s experience at this critical juncture remains a point of worry for Captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Tilak Varma and Rishabh Pant Under Medical Scrutiny
Sundar is not the only high-profile name on the injury list. Dynamic left-handed batter Tilak Varma is currently in a race against time to recover from a recent abdominal surgery. Varma, who sustained the injury while playing for Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, has already been confirmed to miss the first three T20Is against New Zealand. While his recovery is reportedly on track, his lack of match practice ahead of a major tournament is a growing concern for the coaching staff.
Furthermore, the squad depth was further tested when Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the ODI series due to a side strain. Pant was struck on the ribs during a net session by a throw-down specialist, leading to the emergency inclusion of Dhruv Jurel. Jurel comes into the side on the back of sensational domestic form, having averaged over 90 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but the frequent “scares” to core players like Pant and Sundar are beginning to overshadow India’s otherwise dominant run of form.
Strategic Hurdles Ahead of the World Cup
Despite these setbacks, the Indian camp remains optimistic. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate recently emphasized that the team believes in its internal depth, citing the abundance of “mystery spin options” and “high-pace quicks” available. However, former captain Sourav Ganguly has noted that the fitness of specialists like Varun Chakravarthy and the all-round balance provided by Sundar will be “X-factors” in home conditions.
As the January 31 deadline for final squad submissions looms, the Indian management must decide whether to stick with their primary choices or pivot toward replacements who are currently match-fit. With group-stage fixtures against the USA, Namibia, and a high-stakes clash against Pakistan in Colombo scheduled for February, India will be hoping their stars can navigate this “injury cloud” and return to full strength before the first ball is bowled on February 7.
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