India has made a last-minute adjustment to their squad ahead of the all-important third ODI against England, bringing in Harsh Dubey to replace the injured Washington Sundar for this pivotal match at Lord’s. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Saturday that the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder has been called up after Sundar was sidelined due to a right hamstring injury. Sundar sustained the injury during the second ODI at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, where England managed to level the three-match series at 1-1. Now, Dubey has a fresh chance to be part of India’s senior ODI lineup before the crucial showdown on Sunday.
The BCCI said, “Washington sustained a right hamstring injury during the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, and has been ruled out of the remainder of the series. He will undergo scans and seek a specialist opinion for further management of his injury.”
It will be interesting to see if Harsh Dubey plays in tomorrow’s match or if Kuldeep Yadav will be added to the playing XI.
Harsh Dubey Earns Another Opportunity After His Debut Against Afghanistan
Harsh Dubey’s addition to the squad comes at a crucial moment in the tour, with the ODI series finely balanced after England bounced back from their defeat in Birmingham to secure a win in Cardiff. The match on Sunday at Lord’s will be the deciding factor for the series, and India is eager to clinch their first ODI victory at this legendary venue since 2004. A win here would not only seal the series but also cap off an impressive tour on a high note. While Dubey enhances India’s spin options, the team already boasts Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, which puts the management in a tough spot when it comes to selection.
The young all-rounder has truly earned his spot with consistent performances across various formats. Dubey got his first call-up to the national team after a stellar 2024-25 domestic season with Vidarbha, where he took 69 wickets in the Ranji Trophy and scored over 450 runs, ultimately being named Player of the Series. He also shone during IPL 2026, bagging 13 wickets in 11 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Although he was part of India’s Test squad against Afghanistan, he didn’t make it onto the field.
Dubey later made his ODI debut against Afghanistan in Dharamsala, where he delivered a promising performance with figures of 3 for 47. He also played a key role in India A’s successful red-ball tour of Sri Lanka, taking four wickets and contributing scores of 30 and 29 with the bat. His ability to make an impact in both bowling and batting makes him a valuable asset as India gears up for this winner-takes-all showdown. After the ODI at Lord’s, Dubey is set to head to Zimbabwe for a three-match series starting on July 23 in Harare, with the other matches scheduled for July 25 and 26.
India’s updated squad for 3rd ODI: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav, Harsh Dubey.
