After Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan, India could be facing another injury concern ahead of the start of the Test series in Sri Lanka, with a fresh media report raising questions over the availability of all-rounder Washington Sundar, who was picked only for the second Test of the tour.
According to a report in The Times of India, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) and the Indian team management are taking a cautious approach with Sundar’s hamstring injury amid the spate of injuries that have affected the Indian team and triggered criticism of the Bengaluru facility. Sundar sustained the injury during the second ODI in Cardiff and has since been undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE.
“At this moment, the chances of Washington going to Sri Lanka are very slim. The team management has been told to plan accordingly. The BCCI medical team is wary of pushing him into a Test match. There have been a few instances where players have broken down immediately after recovering from an injury,” a BCCI source told the publication.
“Washington was picked only for the second Test, knowing it would be touch-and-go for him to gain full fitness. He hasn’t played much after sustaining the injury in England last month. His workload is being carefully increased,” the source added.
The report further stated that the selectors are unlikely to name a replacement if Sundar is ruled out. The all-rounder could remain a 16th member of the squad if he is fit enough to join the team, but the management will first assess whether it is worthwhile sending him to Sri Lanka without any match practice.
“Washington will be the 16th member if he links up with the team. It needs to be assessed if it will be worthwhile to send him for a Test match without any game time. A thorough assessment will be done next week, which will include how the team is placed in Sri Lanka,” the source said.
Sundar’s uncertainty adds to India’s growing injury concerns. Bumrah has already been ruled out of the Sri Lanka Test series after failing to recover from the knee injury he sustained during the ODI series in England. The CoE had initially been working towards increasing his workload ahead of the tour, but there is now no specific timeline for his return to longer-format cricket.
“The CoE was working on increasing Bumrah’s workload before the Test series in Sri Lanka. It was felt that he would not be ready in time. It has been a long time since he has bowled in longer formats for a while. The CoE is very careful about him. They haven’t given any timeline on him. Anyway, Indian cricket may have to now start getting ready for life without Bumrah especially in the longer formats after next year,” the source said.
Akash Deep is another major concern. The Bengal pacer has been out of action since January after suffering a stress fracture in his back, and the CoE’s target had been to get him cricket-fit in time for the Sri Lanka tour. That has not happened either, with no clear timeline communicated to the team management or selection committee.
“For Akash Deep, the CoE’s target was to get him cricket fit by the Sri Lanka tour. That hasn’t happened. Now, they haven’t communicated any timeline to the team management and the selection committee. It’s not easy to come back from a back injury. The team management hopes that he will be available for the tour of New Zealand which will be very crucial. It will be a boost for the team if both Bumrah and Akash are available for the two Tests in New Zealand,” the source added.
