India all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series against New Zealand after sustaining a rib injury during the opening match in Vadodara, the BCCI confirmed on Monday.
The 26-year-old experienced discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling in the first ODI at the BCA Stadium on Sunday.
Sundar, who returned figures of 5–0–27–0, walked off midway through the New Zealand innings and did not take the field again.
Despite the injury, he later came out to bat at No. 8 as India went on to secure a four-wicket victory.
In a statement, the BCCI said Sundar reported an acute onset of pain in his left lower rib while bowling and will undergo further scans, after which the medical team will seek expert opinion.
ODI captain Shubman Gill had earlier indicated after the match that Sundar was dealing with a side strain and would be sent for scans.
Sundar’s injury adds to India’s growing list of absentees.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the ODI series last week due to a side strain, while Tilak Varma will miss the first three T20Is following the ODIs after undergoing surgery for a groin injury.
The selectors have called up Delhi batter Ayush Badoni as Sundar’s replacement.
The 26-year-old has earned his maiden international call-up after consistent performances in domestic cricket.
Badoni has featured in 27 List A matches, scoring at an average of 36.47 with one century and five half-centuries.
While primarily a batter, he has also contributed with the ball, taking four wickets in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy at an average of 19.75. Badoni also brings IPL experience, having played 56 matches for Lucknow Super Giants.
India and New Zealand will play the remaining two ODIs in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18.
The teams will then shift focus to a five-match T20I series, beginning in Nagpur on January 21, followed by matches in Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram, as part of their build-up to the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February–March.
