India has made an unexpected squad change in their ODI series against New Zealand after all-rounder Washington Sundar was ruled out due to a rib injury sustained during the first match. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Monday that uncapped batter Ayush Badoni will replace Sundar in the lineup.
In the opening ODI at BCA Stadium, Sundar delivered a commendable bowling performance with figures of 5 overs, 27 runs, and no wickets but had to leave the field midway through New Zealand’s innings after experiencing pain in his left rib area. Although he returned to bat at No. 8, contributing to India’s narrow four-wicket victory, he was unable to continue bowling. The BCCI confirmed in a statement that Sundar “reported an acute onset of pain in his left lower rib while bowling” and will undergo scans and further assessments, with consultations from specialists to follow.
In light of Sundar’s absence, India has turned to 26-year-old Ayush Badoni for his maiden international call-up. Badoni is a reliable middle-order batter from Delhi with a List A average of 36.47 over 27 matches, including one century and five fifties. While he is primarily recognized for his batting prowess, he has recently been honing his off-spin bowling skills, having taken four wickets with an economy rate of 3.59 in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Badoni also has substantial experience in franchise cricket, having played 56 matches for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and is expected to add depth to India’s lower-middle order. Sundar’s injury is not an isolated incident; he joins a list of players facing injury challenges, including wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who is out due to a side strain, and Tilak Varma, who will miss the first three T20Is following groin surgery.
India’s ODI captain Shubman Gill confirmed the seriousness of Sundar’s injury after Sunday’s match, stating, “Washington Sundar has a side strain and will go for scans after the match.” Following the opening match in Vadodara, the teams are set to meet again in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18. The series serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming five-match T20I series, which is essential for the T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka in February and March, with matches planned in Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/01/13/badoni-replaces-injured-washington-in-india-squad-for-nz-odis/
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Publish Date: 2026-01-13 03:21:00
