Washington Sundar Fit for Afghanistan Series; Bumrah’s Fitness Decision Due September 9

Washington Sundar has been declared fit and will be available for India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting September 13.

His return is a timely boost for India, with the team still awaiting fitness updates on several other players. Jasprit Bumrah remains the biggest concern. India Today has learnt that the star fast bowler is yet to undergo his match simulation, which is scheduled for September 9. The BCCI is expected to take a final call on Bumrah’s availability for the Afghanistan series after assessing his performance in the simulation.

India are also awaiting final fitness clearances for Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Both players have completed their fitness tests and match simulations, but the BCCI is yet to formally declare them fit. Their final reports are expected on the evening of September 9.

The selectors have picked a full-strength squad for the Afghanistan series after India endured a difficult stretch in T20I cricket. The team lost six matches in a row across the series against Ireland and England, leading the selectors to bring their strongest available combination for the three-match contest.

Hardik Pandya remains the only major absentee from the squad. The all-rounder continues to be sidelined after suffering a leg strain during the Indian Premier League earlier this year.

India squad for Afghanistan T20I 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*.