IND vs SL Asia Cup 2023 Final: Bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar, who is part of India's Asian Games squad, has been called in as injured Axar Patel's replacement for Sunday's IND vs SL Asia Cup 2023 Final match. Axar Patel reportedly suffered multiple injuries in India vs Bangladesh Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 fixture on Friday. The extent of his injuries is currently unknown. "Axar is currently suffering from multiple injuries. He has hurt his little finger, got hit on forearm by a throw from deep and most importantly has developed a hamstring niggle. So Washington has been called," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. Washington, off-spin batting all-rounder, last played an ODI game earlier this year against New Zealand in January.
Injury to Axar Patel, who is important for India's ODI World Cup 2023 plans, will keep Indian team management worried as the mega ICC event is just three weeks away. Once Asia Cup 2023 final concludes, Sundar will join India's Asian Games contingent, scheduled to be played from September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, China.
India suffered an unexpected six-run loss to Bangladesh in their final Super 4 match against Bangladesh on Friday. Axar Patel scored 42 runs, but his batting heroics went in vain as India feel short in the final over, eventually losing their first game in this year's continental tournament.
Apart from being a good off-break bowler, Washington Sundar also bats well in the lower order. He has not been included in India's 15-man ODI World Cup 2023 squad.
If Sundar gets picked in India's playing XI for IND vs SL Asia Cup 2023 Final, his ability to bowl off-spin against Sri Lanka's left-handed batters on a spin-friendly Colombo track can prove beneficial for the Men in Blue.