Washington Sundar was on Saturday added to India’s squad ahead of the Asia Cup 2023 final against Sri Lanka, with Axar Patel ruled out of the summit clash due to injury.
Axar injured his hamstring during his 34-ball 42 against Bangladesh on Friday and is set to miss the final that takes place at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
The left-arm spinner is also likely to miss the three-match ODI series against Australia that takes place right after the Asia Cup, and also appears a doubtful starter for the ICC World Cup, in which hosts India begin their campaign against Australia on 8 October.
Off-spinner Sundar was part of India’s squad for the Asian Games that takes place in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October. As a spin-bowling all-rounder, Sundar is a near like-for-like replacement for Axar.
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Quadriceps injuries take time to heal and it could take Axar a good two to three weeks to recover, thus putting his participation in ICC’s showpiece event in doubt.
Axar sustained several injuries during India’s six-run loss to Bangladesh in their last Super Four match on Friday.
“Axar Patel has been ruled out of the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka due to a left quadriceps strain sustained during India’s Super Four match against Bangladesh on Friday. The men’s Selection Committee has named Mr Washington Sundar as a replacement. The all-rounder arrived in Colombo this evening and has joined the squad,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a release.
More than the swelling on his forearm, it is Axar’s hamstring issue which will keep the Indian team management worried with just three weeks to go for the World Cup.
“Even if it’s not a tear and may be a strain, it would take two weeks to heal. Yesterday, one saw on TV that Axar had a strapping on his thigh which is an indicator that the quadriceps strain was bothering him. If it’s not a Grade 2 tear, he could still play the World Cup but it depends on the extent of injuries. But it’s good to know, he has not sustained any forearm fracture,” a source in the know of things said.
Sundar last played an ODI for India in January 2023. He recently played two T20Is in Ireland. The Tamil Nadu cricketer has so far played in 16 ODIs, scoring 233 runs and also has 16 wickets to his name.
Meanwhile, there’s no clarity on Shreyas Iyer’s participation in the final.
Iyer batted in the nets on Thursday but did not play in the Friday game against Bangladesh as he was not 100 per cent fit.
Read | IND vs SL Head-to-head, records in ODIs, stats from Premadasa
India would want their first-choice No 4 batter to get fit in time as the World Cup comes closer.
As for the Sri Lankan camp, off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana has been ruled out of the final due to a hamstring injury. The defending champions have since called up Sahan Arachchige as his replacement.
Arachchige made his debut against West Indies in the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe and has two ODI appearances to his credit.
With inputs from PTI
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