Washington Sundar fit for Afghanistan T20Is, Bumrah fitness report due September 9
Washington Sundar has been cleared to play in India's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. But the team is still waiting for fitness updates for Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
All-rounder Washington Sundar is fit and available for India's three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. With the series beginning on September 13, Washington's availability comes as a boost for India, who are still awaiting fitness updates on several other players.
India Today has learnt that star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is yet to undergo his match simulation, just four days before the start of the series. Bumrah is expected to complete the simulation on September 9, following which the Indian Cricket Board will take a call on his participation in the Afghanistan series.
Apart from Bumrah, India are also waiting for fitness clearances for Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Both players have completed their fitness tests and match simulations, but are yet to be declared fit by the BCCI. The final fitness report is expected on the evening of September 9.
India had named a full-strength squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan after a difficult run in T20Is. The team lost six consecutive matches across its series against Ireland and England, prompting the selectors to field a full-strength squad against Afghanistan.
The only player missing in the squad is Hardik Pandya, who continues to remain sidelined due to a leg strain suffered during the Indian Premier League, earlier this year.
INDIA SQUAD FOR AFGHANISTAN SERIES
Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma (vc), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana*
*Subject to fitness