Global Cricket Injury Report: Washington Sundar's Hamstring Blow Compounds India's Woes as Chris Green Exits Blast

The grueling mid-summer cricket schedule is taking a heavy toll on international and franchise rosters, with a spate of soft-tissue and bone injuries sidelining key players across the globe. The most immediate casualty came during the second One Day International between India and England in Cardiff, where Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar suffered a mid-match hamstring pull.

The incident occurred during the 33rd over of India's innings. Batting at number six, Sundar appeared to pull his right hamstring while sprinting to complete a run. After a prompt assessment and heavy strapping by the team physio, he attempted to continue but was dismissed on the very next delivery, edging a sharp bouncer from Saqib Mahmood to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.[1]

The severity of the injury became glaringly apparent during England's run chase. Sundar was unable to take the field, forcing substitute fielder Prince Yadav into action and leaving captain Shubman Gill one frontline spin option short as India attempted to defend a modest total of 233. The absence severely hampered India's bowling rotation, and Sundar is now highly doubtful for the series decider at Lord's.

Sundar's breakdown compounds a growing hamstring crisis for the Indian squad in the UK. Just days earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that fast bowler Harshit Rana and mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy were ruled out of the white-ball assignments against England and Zimbabwe due to Grade 1 and Grade 2 hamstring tears, respectively.[2]

Rana's injury has sparked a broader conversation about rehabilitation protocols. According to BCCI insiders, the 24-year-old fast bowler was found to be overweight upon returning to the squad following a lengthy knee rehabilitation. Medical experts note that extra body mass significantly increases the braking forces—often six to eight times a bowler's body weight—placed on the hamstrings during the delivery stride.

To plug the gaps, the Indian selection committee swiftly drafted in Prince Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi. Yadav, who impressed during the IPL, was added to the ODI squad and immediately made his presence felt in the preceding T20I series, delivering crucial death overs and claiming key wickets against the English top order.[2]

The injury wave extends well beyond the international arena, disrupting major domestic T20 leagues. In England's Vitality Blast, Lancashire Cricket announced that Australian all-rounder Chris Green has been ruled out for the remainder of his overseas spell after suffering a fractured thumb against the Leicestershire Foxes.

While the injury abruptly ends Green's current Vitality Blast and County Championship campaigns, Lancashire moved quickly to secure his services for the future, signing him to a new deal that will see him return to Emirates Old Trafford for a fourth summer in 2027.

Across the Atlantic, the San Francisco Unicorns of Major League Cricket (MLC) were dealt a similar blow. Legendary Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season due to a right knee injury. Ashwin managed just one appearance against the Texas Super Kings before the injury—which previously derailed his Big Bash League ambitions—forced his withdrawal.[3]

The Unicorns secured tournament approval to bring in veteran Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle as Ashwin's official replacement, pivoting their roster strategy from spin control to pace experience for the back half of the MLC season.[3]

Finally, New Zealand's white-ball squad in the Caribbean was forced into a late reshuffle. Fast bowler Ben Sears was ruled out of the five-match ODI series against the West Indies due to worsening ankle discomfort. The issue had been lingering since the Test series against Ireland and flared up during the recent Trent Bridge Test against England, prompting New Zealand Cricket to fly in Ben Lister as cover.[4]