The Indian Cricket Team won against the New Zealand Cricket Team, showcasing their might in the first encounter of the ongoing three-match series. The Indian team won and outplayed the NZ team by four wickets by creating a 301-run target. Virat Kohli won the Player of the Match title for his commendable 93-run knock. However, a big blow was sustained by the Indian team as Washington Sundar suffered from a side strain. He bowled five in the first innings and then left. Although he did not return to bowl, rather came back to bat in the second innings and scored an unbeaten seven runs. Because of the side strain suffered by Sundar, he is likely to be ruled out of the remainder of the tournament. It will be a set back for the Indian team and they would require a powerful all-rounder to replace him in the team. The following three players can replace Sundar if he is ruled out of the NZ ODIs. Also Read | India Spin-allrounder ruled out from New Zealand ODI Series due to rib injury: Reports 4 Players Who Can Replace Washington Sundar in ODIs vs NZ Axar Patel Axar Patel should be the first choice to replace Sundar in case he is ruled out of the NZ ODIs. He was in good form in both bat and ball while playing for Gujarat in Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26. He played two games in the one-day domestic tournament, scoring a century and a half-century against Andhra (130) and Odisha (73). Prior to going wicketless against Odisha, he picked a two-wicket haul against Andhra. He played against Australia in October, 2025 in Sydney which was his last ODI game. Shahbaz Ahmed Shahbaz Ahmed is another all-rounder who showed amazing performance in the VHT 2025-26. He made 390 runs with one century and three half-centuries in the seven games he played in the tournament while representing Bengal. He made 108 runs against Hyderabad. He also took six wickets while bowling, along with a best bowling show of 2/51 against Chandigarh. Ahmed has played in three ODIs till now, with his last game against Bangladesh in December 2022. Also Read | Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26: Top 3 Run-Scorers of the Group Stage Krunal Pandya Krunal Pandya is another good option to replace Sundar in the NZ ODIs. The Captain of Baroda made 321 runs in seven games in VHT 2025-26, including one century and two half-centuries. While bowling, he took six wickets in seven games along with a three-wicket haul against Bengal. With his last ODI game against Sri Lanka in July 2021, Pandya has been aiming for his national comeback. Ayush Badoni Ayush Badoni, although not an obvious name, but is someone who has done well in this format recently and can be a perfect replacement of Washington Sundar in the ODI series, in case he is ruled out. In 27 matches he has scored 693 runs at an average of 36.47, with a strike rate above 93, including a century and five fifties. He has also contributed with the ball, scalping 18 wickets in his Lis A career. His recent outings in VHT 2025-26 have been decent and hence, there won't be any surprise if the management decides to rope him in.