Washington Sundar Called up as Injury Cover for Axar Patel Ahead of Asia Cup 2023 Final: Report

Axar Patel's injury has forced India to call upon all-rounder Washington Sundar as a backup before their Sunday match against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 final.

Sundar will join the India ODI team in Colombo, according a report on Cricbuzz, following Axar's discomfort during the team's six-run loss to Bangladesh in a Super 4 match on Friday.

Left-handed batsman Sundar, an offspinner, was left off of India's 15-man ODI World Cup roster, however he will play in the Asian Games in China in 2023.

The men's cricket team from India that is headed to the Asian Games has scheduled a camp in Bengaluru that will last until September 23. After the Asia Cup final, Sundar will take a plane back to the camp.

The 23-year-old Sundar did not play an ODI until January of this year. He was a member of India's second-string team for the August T20I series against Ireland, participating in two of the three matches before rain forced the cancellation of the third.

Sundar has participated in 16 ODIs thus far, amassing 233 runs and 16 wickets.

Axar, on the other hand, has participated in two Asia Cup 2023 games, the first of which was a Super 4 encounter against Bangladesh and the second against Sri Lanka.

He made a useful 26 runs with the bat against Sri Lanka, but he was ineffectual with the ball, bowling five wicketless overs for 29 runs. Against Bangladesh, he did better with the ball, with figures of 1/47 from 9 overs.

Batting at number eight, he struck a resolute 42 off 34 to maintain India's hopes of chasing down 266—a goal they ultimately failed to meet by seven runs.

India is already worried about Shreyas Iyer's health since he participated in both of their group matches prior to missing the Super 4 match against Pakistan due to a back spasm.

Despite reports on Friday stating that he has improved, they felt it was not good enough to get him back into the starting lineup.