India were hit with a fresh injury setback with Washington Sundar ruled out of the Lord’s ODI

India’s injury concerns have intensified ahead of the crucial third ODI against England at Lord’s after all-rounder Washington Sundar was ruled out with a right hamstring injury sustained during the second match in Cardiff.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Friday that Sundar suffered the injury while batting at Sophia Gardens and will undergo a scan before seeking professional advice to determine the severity of the problem. In his absence, the selectors drafted spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey for Sunday’s match in London.

Sundar’s injury comes as another blow to an Indian side already facing a growing fitness crisis. The 26-year-old appeared to have injured himself as he completed the run during his brief stint in the Cardiff wicket. He managed just two runs from five deliveries and required lengthy treatment from the team physio before continuing with a heavily strapped right thigh. Sundar’s innings ended when he edged Saqib Mahmood behind the stumps and was not fielded during England’s chase.

His absence will be keenly felt, especially after his match-winning contribution in the opening ODI at Edgbaston. Chasing 259, India found themselves under pressure before Sundar’s unbeaten 52 leveled the innings. The all-rounder added a century stand with Axar Patel to lead India to a six-wicket win and a 1–0 lead in the three-match series.

INDIA CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH INJURIES

Sundar is the latest Indian player to join the growing list of injuries during the white-ball tour of England. The visitors have already been forced into changes during the T20I leg following injuries to Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy.

Rana suffered discomfort in his right hamstring during the third T20I at Trent Bridge, with scans later revealing a Grade 1 tear. The fast bowler was subsequently dropped from the ODI series and returned to the BCCI Center of Excellence to continue his rehabilitation programme.

Varun Chakraborty, who also sustained an injury during the same matchit turned out even worse. An MRI scan revealed a grade 2 tear in his left hamstring, which ruled him out of India’s T20I series against Zimbabwe. Ravi Bishnoi was called in as his replacement.

India’s injury concerns extend beyond the ongoing tour of England. Promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy missed the second ODI against Afghanistan last month with a sore thigh, raising fresh questions about managing one of India’s most exciting pace bowling prospects.

Testing Indian resources gave Harsh Dubey an opportunity to make a name for himself. The left-arm all-rounder was called up after impressing against Afghanistan, where he claimed figures of 3 for 47 in five overs in the opening match in Dharamsala. His spell helped bowl Afghanistan out for 194 before India sealed a comfortable seven-wicket win.

India started the series with a six-wicket win at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, powered by Axar Patel’s all-round brilliance. However, England bounced back to level the series in Cardiff thanks to Joe Root’s 99 under pressure. Still looking for their first win on the UK tour, India will be eager to seal the decider at Lord’s and end the campaign on a high.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

18 Jul 2026 17:56 IST