India head into the T20 World Cup 2026 as defending champions and strong favourites, with matches spread across India and Sri Lanka. But just days before the tournament, the team management is facing a key selection call around all-rounder Washington Sundar.
Sundar is part of India’s 15-man squad but is not yet fully fit after suffering a rib fracture during the ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara. The injury has kept him under close medical watch during the final phase of preparations.
There has been steady progress in his recovery over the last week. Sundar has completed four batting sessions in rehab and has slowly returned to bowling workloads under supervision.
On February 2, he bowled four overs of spot bowling, a key step in testing his rib. Another bowling session is scheduled for February 4, which will play a big role in deciding whether he can handle match intensity.
Only after that session will the team management take a final call on his World Cup availability. For now, no replacement has been officially named as the selectors wait for detailed medical reports.
Providing an update, journalist Abhishek Tripathi wrote on X, “Washington Sundar is not yet fully fit… he had a fracture in his rib. He has shown good progress in rehab and has completed four batting sessions.”
He added that the February 4 bowling session would assess if the fractured area can handle the load, after which the next steps in rehab will be decided.
While Sundar’s fitness remains uncertain, there is some relief for India with Tilak Varma returning from injury. The left-hander scored a fluent 38 off 24 balls in a warm-up game against the USA and looked comfortable at the crease.
Tilak’s return strengthens India’s middle-order options, especially if the team is forced into a late change. His timing and confidence in the warm-up have caught the eye of the support staff.
If Sundar is ruled out, the selectors have a few options on the table. Ravi Bishnoi offers a specialist leg-spin choice, while Shreyas Iyer could add batting depth if the balance needs tweaking.
India already have several spin options in the squad, including Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy. That depth gives the team some breathing space, even if a last-minute call is needed.
With the tournament around the corner, all eyes are now on February 4 and Sundar’s final bowling test.