India’s dominant four-wicket victory over New Zealand in Vadodara has been dampened by a significant injury blow.1 Allrounder Washington Sundar has been officially ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series after sustaining a rib injury during the series opener.2 In his place, the BCCI has fast-tracked Lucknow Super Giants’ standout Ayush Badoni into the national squad.
The Extent of Washington Sundar’s Injury
The injury occurred on Sunday at the BCA Stadium while Sundar was midway through his bowling spell.3 Despite delivering five economical overs (4$27$ runs), the allrounder was forced to leave the field due to acute discomfort.5 In a display of grit, he did return to bat at No. 8 to help steer India to a win, but subsequent evaluations revealed a more serious issue.
According to an official BCCI statement, Sundar reported acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib area.6 While initial reports from captain Shubman Gill suggested a side strain, the medical team is now scheduling further scans to determine if there is a fracture or a tear. This adds to a growing list of casualties for the Men in Blue; Sundar joins Rishabh Pant (side strain) and Tilak Varma (groin surgery) on the sidelines, leaving the team thin on established all-round options ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Why Ayush Badoni is the Tactical Choice for India
With Sundar out, the selectors have turned to 26-year-old Ayush Badoni. While this is his first international call-up, Badoni is a familiar face to fans of the IPL and domestic cricket. Known for his “finisher” role with the Lucknow Super Giants, Badoni has been actively evolving his game to fit the very slot Sundar occupied.
Badoni’s recent form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy suggests he is more than just a backup batter. He has been honing his off-spin, bowling 22 overs in just three innings for Delhi this season and maintaining a highly impressive economy rate of 3.59. While his batting numbers this season have been quiet, his career List A average of 36.47 and his ability to perform under pressure at No. 5 or lower make him a strategic fit for the current squad balance.
The timing of this transition is critical. After the remaining ODIs in Rajkot and Indore, India pivots to a five-match T20I series. With the T20 World Cup looming in February, Badoni has a golden opportunity to prove he can handle the international stage and provide the “bits-and-pieces” utility that India desperately needs in the absence of their first-choice stars.
