Indian Players Who Didn't Deserve A Place in Sri Lanka Tests

India squad for Sri Lanka series [Source: AFP]

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India's squad for the upcoming 2-match Test series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. The series will begin on August 15, with Shubman Gill continuing as the captain of the Test side.

Meanwhile, there were a few important updates regarding the squad. Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been included in the team. However, his participation will depend on fitness clearance from the BCCI's CoE.

India Test Squad For Sri Lanka Series Announced

Similarly, young batter B Sai Sudharsan has also been named in the squad, although he too will have to wait for the final fitness approval. 

While the squad features several deserving performers, a few selections have left fans. Some players have failed to produce consistent performances in red-ball cricket, yet they continue to receive opportunities. 

On the other hand, a few domestic stars with impressive records have been overlooked. Here are players who didn't deserve a place in India's Test squad for Sri Lanka series.

Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna has been part of India's Test setup for quite some time. However, he has struggled to cement his place due to inconsistent performances. Most recently, during the one-off Test against Afghanistan, the right-arm pacer failed to make a significant impact. 

Notably, he picked up 3 wickets across 2 innings, and his pace and control did not trouble the opposition consistently. Furthermore, in the Test series against England, Prasidh claimed 14 wickets in six innings. Although the wicket tally appears decent, his economy rate of 4.96 remained on the expensive side.

Moreover, the 2nd Test turned out to be one of the toughest matches of his career. During that game, Prasidh Krishna registered the most expensive bowling spell by an Indian bowler in Test cricket since 2006.

As a result, the 30-year-old has yet to prove himself as a dependable option in the longest format. Despite getting repeated opportunities at the international level, he has struggled to deliver match-winning performances consistently. Therefore, his place in the squad could have gone to a bowler in better form.

Also Read: Full List Of Changes In India Test Squad vs Sri Lanka Compared To Afghanistan

Gurnoor Brar

Another selection that has sparked debate is Gurnoor Brar. The left-arm pacer recently made his international debut in ODI series against Afghanistan and delivered a decent performance in the 50-over format. 

However, red-ball cricket demands sustained success in first-class matches and his numbers are not particularly outstanding. So far, Gurnoor Brar has played 30 FC innings and taken 62 wickets. 

While those figures are respectable, they do not stand out enough to justify a place ahead of some in-form domestic bowlers. One such player is Auqib Nabi from Jammu and Kashmir, who has enjoyed an outstanding domestic season. 

During Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Auqib finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker and played an important role in guiding his team to a historic title victory.

Notably, he picked up 60 wickets in just 17 innings while maintaining a brilliant economy rate of 2.65.

Therefore, when the two bowlers are compared, Auqib Nabi appears to have a much stronger case based on recent performances. Notably, Nabi's exceptional domestic record rewarded both his team and his personal growth. Which clearly makes him a worthy candidate for national selection.

Also Read: Deserving Players Who Missed Out On India’s Squad For Sri Lanka Tests 2026