Sarfaraz Khan likely to replace Sai Sudharsan in Sri Lanka Tests

India batter Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka after failing to recover from an injury, with Sarfaraz Khan emerging as the frontrunner to be drafted into the squad as his replacement. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to confirm the final decision on the addition.

Sudharsan had been working through a rehabilitation programme at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, taking part in batting and fielding sessions as part of his recovery. Despite those efforts, he was not fit enough to join the squad when the team departed for Sri Lanka, and he consequently sat out the three-day practice fixture against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo, which began on August 8. The opening Test in Galle is scheduled for August 15.

“Sarfaraz Khan is likely to replace injured Sai Sudharsan in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka,” the BCCI source was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

What other injury concerns is India managing ahead of the series?

India are contending with a lengthy list of fitness setbacks in the build-up to the series. Captain Shubman Gill picked up an impact injury to his right ring finger during a training session before the first Test.

“Update: Captain Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during India’s practice on Thursday. As a precautionary measure, he will not take the field on Day 1 of the warm-up game against SLC XI. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress. KL Rahul will lead the team in Gill’s absence,” The BCCI confirmed on X.

Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the entire series, having not recovered sufficiently from the left knee problem he suffered while playing in the ODI series against England. The Men’s Selection Committee brought in Aquib Nabi as his replacement.

Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are both unavailable, sidelined with hamstring and quadriceps injuries respectively. Washington Sundar will miss the Galle Test after being ruled out with a hamstring complaint, and Akash Deep is still working his way back from stress reactions in his back.

Where do India stand in the World Test Championship ahead of this series?

The two-Test series against Sri Lanka carries added weight for India as it counts towards the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with points from every match shaping the final standings.

India currently sit fifth on the WTC table under Gill’s captaincy. They have won four and lost four of their nine matches so far, leaving them with a Points Percentage of 48.150. A strong showing against Sri Lanka would help India climb the standings and strengthen their prospects of reaching the next WTC final.