Star Indian allrounder Washington Sundar’s recent hamstring injury has proved a setback for the selection committee, with the two-Test series against Sri Lanka beginning in less than a month, and Sundar is racing against time to get fit for the series, according to a report in The Times of India.
The men’s senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, is expected to finalise the team for India’s upcoming two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, beginning Saturday, August 15 in Galle.
Preliminary discussions were held on the sidelines of the white-ball series in England, with a formal selection meeting all set to take place soon ahead of the important assignment.
Sundar was ruled out of the series decider at Lord’s and could now report to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to obtain the required fitness clearance.
The official update from BCCI stated that Sundar had suffered a right hamstring injury. As per the report, while the discomfort eased after he arrived in London, he was advised to undergo X-rays, which were shared with specialists for further assessment.
Even if the injury is limited to a minor pull or a Grade 1 strain, Sundar is expected to need at least two weeks to regain full match fitness.
With the Indian team likely to depart for Sri Lanka as early as August 4 to start preparations, the selectors will have to assess Sundar’s availability before finalising their plans.
The Shubman Gill-led team is also scheduled to play a four-day warm-up game ahead of the opening Test in Galle.
The team that featured in the one-off Test against Afghanistan last month is all set to change, with key cricketers such as ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja expected to return.
If Sundar fails to recover in time, it remains to be seen whether Harsh Dubey will retain his place or if the selectors turn to off-spinner Saransh Jain to add variety to the spin department.
Washington Sundar's hamstring injury casts doubt on his availability for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 15. He has been ruled out of the third ODI against England on July 19.
Harsh Dubey has been named as a replacement for Washington Sundar in the ODI series against England. Kuldeep Yadav is expected to replace Sundar in the series decider.
Washington Sundar's hamstring injury impacts India's spin bowling strategy for the Sri Lanka Test series by potentially reducing the number of spinners selected. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, faces a challenge in finalizing the team due to Sundar's fitness concerns.
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