Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar is unlikely to bat in India’s innings during the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara after sustaining a possible injury. Sundar bowled five overs during New Zealand’s innings but had to leave the field after the 20th over. He was seen clutching his back, and the initial assessment suggests that he may be suffering from a side strain.

As per The Week, an official update from the BCCI medical team is awaited, but the Indian team management is unlikely to risk Sundar with the bat, especially given that the match does not carry high stakes.

There is also a strong possibility that the off-spinner could be ruled out of the remaining two ODIs in the series as a precautionary measure.

While two matches in a week do not constitute a heavy workload, side strains or back niggles are injuries that require careful management. Rushing a player back could aggravate the problem, particularly with bigger tournaments on the horizon. Sundar is part of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7, and his fitness will be a priority for the team management. In subcontinental conditions, Sundar offers valuable balance as a utility all-rounder, even if he is not an automatic starter in the playing XI.

After Sundar walked off the field, Nitish Kumar Reddy came on as a substitute fielder for India. With the IPL 2026 also scheduled soon after the T20 World Cup, Sundar faces a packed calendar, further reducing the likelihood of him being risked in the ongoing ODI series.

The focus will realistically be on ensuring he is fully fit for the T20I series that follows.

The second ODI of the series will be played in Rajkot on January 14, while the final match is scheduled in Indore on January 18. India will then face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series as part of their final preparations for the T20 World Cup.

Speaking about the match, New Zealand posted 300/8 in their 50 overs, with Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, and Daryl Mitchell scoring half-centuries. For India, pacers Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana picked up two wickets each to keep the visitors in check.