Injury Concerns Loom Over Washington Sundar Ahead of India-Australia T20Is

As India braces for the upcoming T20I showdown against Australia, former cricketer Aakash Chopra highlights an unsettling concern surrounding all-rounder Washington Sundar’s consistent susceptibility to injuries, raising apprehensions about his pivotal role in the series.

The imminent five-game T20I series between India and Australia is poised to kick off in Visakhapatnam shortly, featuring Sundar and Axar Patel as the squad’s spin-bowling all-rounders, with Ravi Bishnoi as the sole specialist spinner.

Chopra, in a video shared on his YouTube channel, lauded Sundar’s multifaceted contributions but sounded cautionary notes about his injury proneness:

“Washington Sundar, you are looking at all-rounders… He is coming after playing well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, the only problem is fitness. He comes with a ‘fragile’ sticker. He is so fragile that he gets injured anytime and then it becomes a problem.”

Despite Sundar’s commendable statistics—31 wickets in 40 T20Is alongside 107 runs, including a half-century, at a striking rate of 150.70 in 15 innings—Chopra emphasized the need for Sundar to validate his proficiency if given the chance in the upcoming series.

“It will have to be firstly seen whether he gets a chance to play here, and if he gets it, how he fares, because a long list of all-rounders has gotten prepared now,” Chopra asserted.

The commentator also raised queries about the tactical implications of accommodating three spinners, including Sundar, Axar Patel, and Bishnoi, along with Shivam Dube in the playing XI, emphasizing the significance of the initial match’s selection choices.

With Bishnoi’s anticipated inclusion due to his status as the sole wrist-spinner in the squad, Sundar might contend with Axar Patel for the spin-bowling all-rounder position, contingent on the team’s preference for seamers in the playing XI.