Washington Sundar added to India's Asia Cup squad as cover for injured Axar Patel: Report

Washington Sundar has been added to India’s Asia Cup 2023 squad ahead of the final against Sri Lanka as a cover for Axar Patel. Sundar is a like-for-like replacement for Patel who according to the news agency PTI suffered multiple injuries in India’s last group game against Bangladesh.

The exact extent of Axar’s injuries is currently unknown hence the team management has called up Washington Sundar as a cover.

“Axar is currently suffering from multiple injuries. He has hurt his little finger, got hit on forearm by a throw from deep and most importantly has developed a hamstring niggle. So Washington has been called,” a BCCI source told PTI.

Sundar is part of India’s Asian Games squad.

The 23-year-old off-spin-bowling all-rounder Sundar last played an ODI for India in January 2023. He recently played two T20Is in Ireland.

Sundar 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% fit.

India would want their first-choice No 4 batter to get fit in time as the World Cup comes closer.

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana has been ruled out of the final due to a hamstring injury.