Team India have reportedly called up all-rounder Washington Sundar as an injury cover for Axar Patel ahead of the final of the Asia Cup 2023.
The Men In Blue will take on Sri Lanka in the summit clash of the continental tournament in Colombo on Sunday.
As per a report in Cricbuzz, Sundar will join the India squad in after Axar picked up niggles during their last Super 4 game against Bangladesh on Friday. Notably, India suffered a narrow six-run defeat against Bangladesh in the game.
Earlier Sundar, an offspinner who bats left-handed, was not included in India’s 15-member ODI World Cup squad however, he was named for the Asian Games 2023 campaign in China.
Currently, a training camp has been organised for India’s Asian Games bound men’s cricket squad in Bengaluru till September 23 and Sundar will rejoin the camp after the Asia Cup final.
Sundar, 23, had last played an ODI in January earlier this year and was also a member of India’s second-string squad for the Ireland T20I series in August, where he featured in two games before the third one was washed out.
Overall, Sundar has appeared in 16 ODIs, amassing 233 runs and picking 16 wickets to his name.
On the other hand, Axar has played two matches in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 – both in Super 4 stage with the first against Sri Lanka and the second against Bangladesh.
Against Sri Lanka, he played a valuable 26-run knock with the bat but remained ineffective with the ball as he went wicketless for 29 runs from five overs. Earlier against Bangladesh, he returned with figures of 1/47 from nine overs.
With the bat, left-hander Axar scored a gritty 42 off 34 balls while batting at no. 8 and kept India’s hopes of chasing down 266 alive.