IND vs NZ: Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the New Zealand ODI series. (CREIMAS)
Washington Sundar’s injury has certainly come at a wrong time for the Indian ODI team. He is a player whose performances may not be lauded as loudly as others in the squad, but his supporting acts, across formats with both ball and bat, have had the kind of silent impact in the Indian team that has quietly made him crucial to the team’s plans.
The all-rounder reported an acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday. “He will undergo further scans, following which the BCCI Medical Team will seek expert opinion. Washington has been ruled out of remaining two matches,” a press release by the Indian board stated.
Two casualty in two days, the Indian team had earlier lost Rishabh Pant on the eve of the first ODI after he was hit above the waist while taking a throwdown. On this one, the team management will be sweating even more, given that he is a part of India’s ICC T20 World Cup team, which starts on February 7, and those in the backroom admit that he plays a crucial role in the side.
Washington has been replaced by Ayush Badoni, who has been drafted in for his maiden call up in the 50-over format, for the remaining two ODIs. While the team management may be keen to give Badoni, who has featured with the India A setup recently too, a look-in, the fact that his replacement is a middle-order batter who can chip in with a bit of off spin when required, shows Washington’s status as a unicorn player within India’s ranks.
Under the tenure of coach Gautam Gambhir, all-rounders have been given a priority. Even more so for those who have Washington’s rare combination of abilities. He is a rare floater, who can bat at any position, and bowl any over. When the team wants to curtail down the pace of the score, they will bring him on. He can be handy in power-play and can bowl in death. With light spin and arch which he produces, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder has always been a tough candidate to handle.
He can hold his nerves during a crisis situation too. When India had lost Harshit Rana in their chase in the first ODI, Indian team management had no choice other than to send Washington. The Indian team had required 22 runs in the next 23 balls with Washington and KL Rahul at the crease.
Having only bowled 5 overs, and not bowling at all after the 20th over of New Zealand’s innings, Washington was finding it tough to run. He came out to bat at No 8 and relied only on his hand eye coordination. He scored seven runs from seven deliveries and with him at the crease, the Indian side knew they had a chance. Rahul later revealed that he didn’t know that Washington, due to his injury, couldn’t even run.
“That said, he was striking the ball really well… He rotated the strike, and did his job,” Rahul added.
India are leading the series 1-0, but on a flat track at Rajkot on Wednesday, they will miss someone like Washington. At the same, though, the more pressing concern is that their floater returns for the multi-nation tournament in three weeks.
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