Why Washington Sundar Trended: T20I Withdrawal and India vs West Indies Squad Changes

Washington Sundar became a major talking point in Indian cricket circles on October 1 and 2, 2026, following his sudden withdrawal from India's T20I squad for the series against the West Indies. The spike in search interest, which saw a 1000% growth in India, was driven by a broader reshuffle of India's white-ball squads as the team balanced current series commitments with future Test requirements.

Washington Sundar's T20I Withdrawal

According to the ICC on October 1, 2026, Washington Sundar was withdrawn from the T20I series against the West Indies to allow him to focus on the upcoming ICC World Test Championship series against New Zealand. Unlike other squad changes, this move was strategic rather than injury-led, prioritizing his preparation for the longest format of the game.

To fill the void, India named Naman Dhir as Sundar's replacement in the T20I squad. Dhir enters the side having recently made his ODI debut during the series opener against the West Indies.

Linked ODI Squad Changes: Prasidh Krishna Injury

The trending interest in Washington Sundar coincided with another significant squad update involving the ODI team. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the final ODI against the West Indies in Chandigarh. The ICC reported that Krishna "sustained a left hamstring injury during the second ODI in Guwahati" [1].

India responded by calling up Anshul Kamboj as the replacement for Krishna. For Kamboj, the call-up represents a potential ODI debut as he joins the squad in Chandigarh.

Current Series Context

These changes come at a time when India is in a dominant position in the white-ball series. The hosts have already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series following "thumping victories in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati" [1].

Player Out	Replacement	Format	Reason
Washington Sundar	Naman Dhir	T20I	Focus on WTC series vs New Zealand
Prasidh Krishna	Anshul Kamboj	ODI	Left hamstring injury