‘You can’t just play with a doctor’s certificate’ – Srikkanth questions Sundar’s Afghanistan T20I selection

‘You can’t just play with a doctor’s certificate’ – Srikkanth questions Sundar’s Afghanistan T20I selection (Source: Ranjith Kumar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Washington Sundar has been named in India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, scheduled for September 13, 15, and 17, 2026 in New Delhi. The 26-year-old’s inclusion is conditional on a fitness clearance as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained during India’s ODI series in England in July.

Sundar picked up the hamstring injury while completing a run in the 33rd over during India’s six-wicket defeat in the second ODI at Cardiff on July 17, 2026. He was subsequently ruled out of the third and final deciding ODI against England at Lord’s. The left-arm spinner missed the most recent Test series in Sri Lanka due to the same injury and has not played any competitive match since the England ODI series.

Former India opener Kris Srikkanth has raised serious concerns about Sundar’s readiness for international cricket without any competitive match experience since his injury. Srikkanth’s critique focuses on the principle that players must demonstrate match-fitness through actual gameplay rather than relying solely on medical clearance certificates.

“He is good in Tests but didn’t play in Sri Lanka. How is he fit now in two weeks? He has not proved his match-fitness so what is the use? You must play some matches at some level to show your fitness before being picked for India. You can’t just play with a doctor’s certificate. Washington Sundar seems to be injured after every two or three series,” said Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.

Srikkanth also highlighted Sundar’s recent performance struggles in white-ball cricket across multiple series. The former opener pointed to a pattern of inconsistency in the shorter formats despite the spinner’s successful transition to Test cricket earlier in his career.

“He was smashed in Ireland and England. He started his cricket from the T20 format. He moved brilliantly to Test cricket, but he has lost his rhythm in white-ball cricket,” Srikkanth said.

The Afghanistan T20I squad also includes other players listed subject to fitness clearance. Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana are similarly named in the squad, which is captained by Shreyas Iyer, pending their fitness assessments before the series begins.

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