India's preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held on home soil, have been disrupted by injuries to key players, namely Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma. With the tournament commencing on February 7, time is running out for Sundar to prove his fitness.
Washington Sundar's injury woes began during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, where he complained of discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling. Despite the injury, the all-rounder demonstrated his commitment by batting and forming a crucial partnership with KL Rahul, which helped India secure victory. However, medical assessments later revealed a side strain, which has ruled him out of the subsequent ODI and T20 series against New Zealand. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring Sundar's recovery and will seek expert opinion to assess the extent of the injury. Sources suggest that the side strain is more serious than initially anticipated, causing concern among the national selection committee and team management. They are reportedly considering backup plans for the initial stages of the T20 World Cup, with the possibility that Sundar may not be fully fit. A thorough assessment of his condition is expected from the Centre of Excellence (CoE), where he is scheduled to report. Despite the uncertainty, there is a possibility that India might delay naming a replacement, especially considering that India will play against associate nations in the initial matches, giving Sundar more time to recover for the later stages of the tournament.
Washington Sundar's potential absence would be a significant blow to India's T20 World Cup campaign. Over the past two years, the 26-year-old has been instrumental in providing balance to the Indian side with his all-round capabilities. Sundar has claimed 51 wickets in 58 T20Is and has scored over 250 runs, including a half-century. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset, particularly in the spin-friendly conditions expected in India and Sri Lanka.
While Sundar faces a race against time, there is positive news regarding Tilak Varma's availability. Varma had undergone surgery for an abdominal issue while playing domestic cricket for Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26. He was hospitalized after experiencing sudden pain but is now stable and recovering well. Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand, but his availability for the remaining two matches will be assessed based on his progress.
Varma, who was a standout player last year, was also the leading run-scorer against South Africa, with 187 runs. He recently underwent surgery for testicular torsion and was ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand. On January 22, 2026, Varma shared photos and videos of his recovery on Instagram, captioning them, "Leaving no stone unturned, comeback,” indicating his determination to be fit for the T20 World Cup.
With less than a month remaining until the T20 World Cup 2026, India will be hoping for a smooth build-up to their title defense. The team has demonstrated formidable batting firepower, mystery spinners, express pacers, and a plethora of all-rounders. Given their squad depth and recent form, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side appears well-placed for a successful title defense, provided they can overcome these injury concerns.
