Washington Sundar ruled out of remainder of series, Ayosh Badoni named replacement Today Sports News

Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series against New Zealand after suffering a side strain during India’s series-opening match in Vadodara on Sunday (January 11, 2026). Ayosh Badoni has received a maiden call-up as his replacement for the remaining ODIs of the series.

According to a BCCI statement “reported an acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling” on Sunday. The Hindu understands that Washington travelled to Mumbai on Monday (January 12, 2026) to seek further medical advice and expected to take around a fortnight to recover.

Badoni’s name may raise more than a few eyebrows considering head coach Gautam Gambhir’s influence on his career and Axar Patel being a like-for-like replacement for Washington in both the primary departments.

However, it is understood that the selectors, in consultation with the team management, decided to not risk Axar, the T20I vice-captain, ahead of the T20 World Cup. Besides, the team management is inclined towards including Nitish Kumar Reddy in the XI for both the ODIs.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was in Vadodara along with the squad ahead of the ODI and was seen in one-on-one discussions with captain Shubman Gill and Gambhir during the pre-match training on Saturday. Washington is unlikely to be fit for the initial T20Is, handing the team management and selection committee another concern ahead of the Men’s T20 World Cup.

India are already set to be without Tilak Varma for the first three T20Is against New Zealand. With Tilak sidelined and Washington racing against time to regain fitness, the build-up to the World Cup has become increasingly complicated for the Indian camp.

Both players will be under pressure to recover in time, with India scheduled to begin its T20 World Cup campaign in Mumbai on February 7.