After Shubman Gill’s injury scare, Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the two-match series with a stress fracture to his right toe.
Sai Sudharsan’s participation, after he was named in the initial 15-player squad, was subject to a fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). However, he was deemed unfit after he was unable to sprint at full throttle even after being on the road to recovery.
Sai Sudharsan’s exclusion from the squad has made matters worse for the visitors, who are already dealing with injury concerns. Just a week ago, Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the series raising concerns over his knee, with the selectors naming Auqib Nabi as his replacement for the two-match series.
However, Devdutt Padikkal scored a compelling 142 not out off 164 deliveries in the tour match against the SLC XI, and will likely cement the spot at No.3 now, following Sudharsan’s exclusion from the side.
The first of the two Test matches will be played in Galle, from August 15. The two teams will then shift to the SSC in Colombo for the second Test, from August 23. This series will be important for India and Sri Lanka in terms of the World Test Championship: they are placed fifth and sixth respectively.
Sarfaraz Khan named as Sai Sudharsan’s replacement
Sarfaraz Khan, who has played six Tests for India has been announced as Sai Sudharsan’s replacement for the two-Test series. The right-handed middle-order Mumbai batter is expected to link up with the squad before the team travels to Galle for the first Test.
From six Tests, Sarfaraz has 371 runs with a highest score of 150, his solitary hundred, and three fifties. His most recent appearance was in the 2024 home Test series against New Zealand, which saw his magnificent hundred in Bengaluru. That being said, his call-up to the team comes on the back of a magnificent run in the domestic circuit, where he scored 429 runs in nine innings.
It will have to be seen whether India find a way to include Sarfaraz in the playing XI. He might find a place at No.6 if the team management decides to bench Dhruv Jurel. Sarfaraz has registered two fifties in six innings at No.6 so far.
India’s updated squad for the Tests against Sri Lanka
Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.
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