Kuldeep Yadav replaces the injured Washington Sundar in India’s T20I line-up.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Kuldeep Yadav as a replacement for the injured Washington Sundar for the forthcoming three-match T20I series, which begins on February 16 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Due to a hamstring issue, Washington Sundar will not be able to play in the T20I series. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder, who was sold to SunRisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction, appeared in all three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for India against the West Indies.

“All-rounder Washington Sundar experienced a left hamstring muscle injury while fielding in the third One-Day International against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday,” according to a BCCI announcement.

Sundar has recently been hampered by injury setbacks. After sustaining a finger injury during India’s tour of England, the all-rounder missed the second half of the IPL 2021 and the T20 World Cup. Due to Covid-19, he also missed India’s visit to South Africa earlier this year.

Kuldeep was also included in the ODI team, and the left-arm wrist-spinner returned to the ODI squad for the first time in over a year when he played the last ODI on Friday. Kuldeep pulled up two wickets in India’s series-clinching triumph.

Kuldeep last played T20Is for India in August of last year, during a three-match series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. The former Kolkatta Knight Riders spinner’s status has slipped in the shortest version of the game but having signed a deal with the Delhi Capitals for IPL 2022, Kuldeep will be hoping to make an impression against the West Indies if given the chance.

India’s T20I squad includes Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (VC) (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar