Shubman Gill To Lead, No Nitish Reddy; Bumrah Back: India's Squad For Sri Lanka Tests Predicted

Shubman Gill will lead India in Sri Lanka Tests [Source: AFP]

The SLC unveiled the official schedule of the India tour of Sri Lanka 2026 on Thursday, July 2. The Indian team will cross swords against their Lankan counterparts in two Test matches in August this year. 

Led by Shubman Gill, India recently registered a clinical victory over Afghanistan, defeating the tourists by an innings and 300 runs. However, as the fixture was not part of the current WTC cycle, the win in Mullanpur didn't earn the Indians any points. 

So, with their WTC final dreams at stake, India would be desperate to emerge victorious in the two-match series. As they get ready to take on the Lankans, here we predict India squad vs Sri Lanka ahead of the highly anticipated series. 

India's predicted squad for Sri Lanka Tests

Top order and openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are expected to play the India vs Sri Lanka Tests as opening batters. They have formed a dependable opening pair for India, amassing 900 runs, including one hundred and six fifty-plus stands, at an average of 36. 

Sai Sudharsan, who regained his mojo as a number three batter with a gritty 81-run knock against Afghanistan, will likely retain his spot in the India squad vs Sri Lanka. 

Devdutt Padikkal might be picked as his backup, having struck a valiant fifty in the India-A vs Sri Lanka-A Test series. 

Middle order and allrounders: Shubman Gill (C), Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel

(Gill, Jadeja, Pant and Sundar have consistently performed since 2024)

Captain Shubman Gill will spearhead the Indian middle order alongside Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant. The trio is supposed to form the backbone of India's batting unit in Sri Lanka, having performed exceptionally in Tests of late. 

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Manav Suthar, who bagged seven wickets, including a six-wicket haul against Afghanistan, will likely make it into the India squad vs Sri Lanka as an allrounder. 

He will likely be accompanied by the experienced duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who were brilliant as batters in the England series in 2025. 

Additionally, Jadeja also has 13 wickets from two Tests in Sri Lanka, making him a key player to India's success in the Island Nation. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy could be excluded from the India squad vs Sri Lanka due to fitness concerns. 

He was ruled out of the T20I series against Ireland and England after sustaining a quadriceps injury. Also, given that the conditions in Sri Lanka will be favourable to spin bowling, Axar Patel could replace Reddy in the India squad vs Sri Lanka. 

Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna

Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the home series against Afghanistan, as the one-off fixture was not part of the WTC cycle. 

However, as the two-match series in Sri Lanka is crucial from the perspective of India's WTC final qualification, Bumrah will likely return in place of Gurnoor Brar in the India squad vs Sri Lanka. 

Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna are the frontrunners to assist Bumrah as India's frontline fast bowlers. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav will likely retain his spot as the lead spinner and strengthen the lineup with Jadeja, Manav Suthar and Axar Patel. 

India's probable squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (C), Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna

India's probable squad for Sri Lanka Tests- Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill (C), Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna

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