Injury setbacks are history for Washington Sundar, who is firing on all cylinders ahead of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 showdown with Namibia at Arun Jaitley Stadium. The all-rounder expressed sheer delight at rejoining the team, just in time for Thursday’s pivotal match.
His absence stemmed from a bowling mishap in Vadodara during the New Zealand ODI series opener about a month ago. Forced to miss the remaining games and T20Is, Sundar focused on recovery at BCCI’s Bengaluru facility. Now fully fit, he stole the show in a BCCI video, quoting a Tamil blockbuster line to announce his return.
‘It’s fantastic being back with the lads for training,’ Sundar shared post-session. ‘We pushed hard today—fielding was sharp, and I had ample time with bat and ball. Everyone stepped up.’ He credited his three-week rehab grind for building match fitness, eyes gleaming with anticipation for the Namibia tie.
Tuesday’s practice saw him shine in drills and partner Kuldeep Yadav in bowling to Tilak Varma. Deep conversations with Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar underscored the management’s faith in his readiness.
Fresh from a 29-run win over USA in Mumbai, India eyes a perfect start. The schedule intensifies with Namibia on the 12th, Pakistan on the 15th, and Netherlands on the 18th. Sundar’s versatility as an off-spin all-rounder could prove game-changing against the African side.
As the stadium fills with cheering fans, Sundar’s story of resilience adds extra spice to what shapes up as an unmissable contest in the World Cup.