Washington Sundar’s replacement for T20 World Cup 2026 fixed, BCCI calls him at CoE

Washington Sundar replacement probably fixed for T20 World Cup [Source: X]

The Indian cricket team currently has no official warm-up matches scheduled ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. While the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand is being treated as preparation, a recent report suggests that the Board of Control for Cricket in India are planning an additional warm-up match to test potential replacements of injured Washington Sundar on February 4.

According to reports, Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma are still recovering from their respective injuries, and Riyan Parag is likely to be considered as a replacement option, particularly for Sundar. 

BCCI calls up Riyan Parag for warm-up games

As per a Times of India report, the BCCI is planning to arrange either a practice match against South Africa or an intra-squad game involving India A players to test combinations and the overall lineup.

The Indian team is expected to assemble in Mumbai on February 2, with the warm-up match likely to be held at the Brabourne Stadium. The TOI also reported that the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru has been instructed to prepare Riyan Parag, who is currently recovering from a shoulder injury.

“Washington’s recovery from the side strain is taking longer than expected. The selectors are preparing for a situation where he is unable to be fit in the initial matches of the World Cup. Tilak’s recovery has been good. His return to play is being chalked out at the moment.

The team management is confident he will be in prime shape by the second match on Feb 12. The selectors want the team to settle down by the match against Pakistan in Colombo on Feb 15,” a BCCI source said, as quoted by the TOI.

Riyan Parag is scheduled to play two matches on January 28 and January 30 before being assessed by the CoE on January 31. He has been advised to report to Mumbai on February 2.

This development points to a potential turnaround for the Rajasthan Royals batter, who could be in line for a national recall after a long gap.

Can BCCI make changes to India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad?

If the report proves accurate, the selectors may consider Riyan Parag as a replacement for Washington Sundar, whose recovery from a muscle strain is taking longer than expected. Although Ravi Bishnoi was named as Washington’s replacement for the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, Parag could emerge as a strong contender for the World Cup squad.

There is a window until January 30 for teams to make changes to their squads for the ICC tournament. However, the tournament’s technical committee also allows replacements in case of injuries even during the competition. 

As Riyan Parag is seen as a like-for-like replacement for Washington Sundar, the selectors are leaning towards the all-rounder, though other options will also be evaluated during the warm-up match. 

At present, concerns remain over Washington Sundar’s fitness, as he is dealing with an injury to a muscle running from the ribs to the lower back. Fast-tracking his return could risk long-term damage and may even affect his availability for the upcoming Indian Premier League.

Riyan Parag's recent not-so-impressive form

Riyan Parag is a useful top-order batter who can also bowl both off-break and leg-break variations, making him a suitable replacement for Washington Sundar. 

Although his international numbers are not very impressive so far, with just four wickets in T20Is and three in ODIs, his inclusion could still prove important. Parag last featured in a T20I for India on October 12, 2024, during the series against Bangladesh.

His recent T20 form has not been particularly strong, as he managed only 53 runs from six innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, his most notable recent performance came in IPL 2025, where he scored 393 runs from 14 innings at an average of 32.75 and a healthy strike rate of 166.53.