Shock Move by Team India as Washington Sundars Replacement Is Announced

Washington Sundar suffered an injury in the first ODI against New Zealand. And his injury was further checked by the BCCI medical team, revealing him unclear to play. Now, the BCCI has named a young talent as the replacement for Sundar for the remaining two ODI games.

The first ODI between India and New Zealand was a banger. Mohammed Siraj made his return to the ODI side, Virat Kohli smashed a half-century, Shreyas Iyer also made a strong comeback. While India ended up winning this game, one thing didn't go their way in this ODI.

And it was related to the injury woes of Washington Sundar. Fans saw that Yashasvi Jaiswal stepped in as a substitute fielder, while Sundar was taken back to the dressing room due to rib pain. Following this, the team has announced a replacement for Sundar, and it is none other than the Young Talent, Ayush Badoni.

1. Washington Sundar’s Injury

Washington Sundar didn't find much success in the first ODI. He was able to bowl five overs in the game and conceded just 27 runs, but failed to take wickets. However, he was seen in trouble with his lower rib area, following which he was also taken back to the dressing room. Yashasvi Jaiswal came in as a substitute fielder, while Sundar didn't step on the field after this.

The first innings came to an end, with New Zealand scoring 300 runs. When it was India's turn to bat, fans expected Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer to finish the game, as they looked set. But both of them lost their wickets in quick succession, with Jamieson picking the important scalps.

Washington Sundar was expected to come out to bat for the team at Number 7. Instead, Harshit Rana came to bat, and he went on to score 29 crucial runs for the team. By this time, it was clear to the fans and commentators that Sundar is going through a lot of pain right now. He came to bat for the team at number 8, as KL Rahul finished the match in style.

An official from BCCI said, “Washington Sundar reported an acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on Sunday. He will undergo further scans, following which the BCCI Medical Team will seek expert opinion.”

India's skipper, Shubman Gill also talked about his injury after the game. He said, ‘Washington Sundar has a side strain and will go for a scan after the match.” Fans waited for the BCCI to give an update on Washington Sundar's injury and it finally came out a few hours ago. Sundar has now been ruled out of the last two games of the series.

2. Who Comes in?

In place of Washington Sundar, the Indian team now has Ayush Badoni in their line-up. It is also a great opportunity for the young talent to come up as a replacement to the team. He has displayed some phenomenal performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with the ball, and his performances with the bat cannot be underlined.

Ayush Badoni in List A (Batting):

• Innings: 22
• Not Out: 3
• Runs: 693
• Average: 36.47
• Strike Rate: 93.27
• 100s: 1
• 50s: 5

It also remains to be seen whether Ayush Badoni will receive his maiden call up in the next match or not. The match is scheduled to be played on 14 January, and winning the game will also help India to win the series. With the next match being a lot crucial for both teams, the team will have to make a bold call on Ayush’s debut.

Ayush Badoni in List A (Bowling):

• Innings: 20
• Wickets: 18
• Average: 29.72
• Economy: 4.54
• Four-wicket Hauls: 0

On the other hand, New Zealand’s team is also not very strong on paper. Majority of the players from their line-up lack experience in the ODI format. When compared to the Indian team, the experience being carried by the Kiwis is much lower, which might even allow Badoni to make his debut.

3. Ayush Badoni Dominance in VHT 2025/26

Ayush Badoni has turned out to be a star performer for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. This has eventually led to him being selected for the Indian team. Representing the Under-19 team before, he waited for a long time to receive this opportunity.

In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26, he might not have done much with the bat, but dominated with the ball. His best performances with the ball came in the match against Railways. With the ball, Badoni was able to take 3 wickets while conceding just 30 runs in his spell.