Cricket-India multi-talented Sundar closed the IPL due to a finger injury

MUMBAI, Aug 30 (Reuters) – The versatile Washington Sundar was excluded from the remainder of this year’s Indian Premier League on Monday due to a finger injury, raising doubts about his eligibility for the Twenty20 World Cup later this year.

21-year-old Sundar, who bowles off-spin and is a handy batsman below, suffered an injury in England before being forced out of India’s ongoing five-match test series against Joe Root’s men.

His franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), said in a statement that he will not recover from the IPL, which will continue on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates.

The eight-team IPL was suspended in May after several players and backroom staff got a new coronavirus infection amid a devastating second wave of COVID-19 in India.

This year’s T20 World Cup was also moved from India to the United Arab Emirates and Oman due to the pandemic, and will begin immediately after the IPL.

Sundar doesn’t have a chance to prove his ability to compete in the tournament even if he recovers from his injury, so Indian voters have a hard time choosing to sit down to pick a team.

The RCB, led by Indian captain Virat Kohl, received positive news on Sunday when Sri Lankan cricket transferred versatile Wanindu Hasaranga and fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera to participate in the IPL.

But they will not be available in the playoffs if the RCB gets on stage as they are scheduled to join the Sri Lankan team on October 10 for two warm-up games before the island nation begins its T20 World Cup campaign.

The IPL playoffs start on October 10 and the final will be played on October 15 in Dubai.

(Reported by Sudipto Ganguly; edited by Stephen Coates)

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