BCCI Names Sarfaraz Khan As Sai Sudharsan's Replacement In India Squad For Sri Lanka Tests

Sarfaraz Khan added to Indian team for SL Tests [Source: AFP]

In a significant development, the BCCI announced Sarfaraz Khan as the replacement for injured batter Sai Sudharsan in the India Test squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The Indian team recently received a massive blow, with a toe injury sidelining Sai Sudharsan from the highly-anticipated Test series. 

Notably, Sudharsan had sustained the toe injury while representing India-A in their recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka-A. Although Sudharsan had reportedly resumed batting at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, he couldn't obtain the fitness clearance certificate from the medical team to join the India Test squad vs Sri Lanka. 

BCCI adds Sarfaraz Khan to India squad for Sri Lanka Tests

On August 9, the BCCI officially announced Sarfaraz Khan as Sai Sudharsan's replacement, adding the Mumbai batter to the India Test squad vs Sri Lanka. Sarfaraz was one of the frontrunners alongside Shaik Rasheed to come in for Sudharsan. 

In its statement, the board also revealed that Sudharsan is steadily recovering from the toe injury which ruled him out of the India tour of Sri Lanka 2026. 

"Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka. The left-handed batter, who has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, has made significant progress in his recovery from the right toe stress reaction and is recovering well. The BCCI Medical Team is closely monitoring his progress," the BCCI stated in a press release. 

"The Men’s Selection Committee has named Sarfaraz Khan as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. He will link up with the Indian squad in Colombo before the team travels to Galle for the first Test match, starting August 15, 2026," the Indian board added. 

India's updated Test squad vs Sri Lanka

Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), 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

Also Read: Yashasvi Jaiswal Left Out! Ruturaj Gaikwad To Lead Sarfaraz Khan In Major Tournament

Sri Lanka tour: A golden opportunity for Sarfaraz Khan to cement his place in Indian team

Sarfaraz Khan made his Test debut against England in Rajkot back in 2024. The Mumbai batter, who had piled up truckloads of runs in the Ranji Trophy, made an immediate impact in the home series, scoring 200 runs with the help of three half-centuries. 

Although Sarfaraz slammed a valiant century in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand, his poor run in the subsequent outings led to his exit from India's first-choice playing XI. 

Sarfaraz didn't get a single match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 before eventually vanishing from the Test setup. Overall, he has played six Tests, scoring 371 runs, including three fifties and one hundred, at an average of 37.1. 

Therefore, Sudharsan's untimely injury has turned out to be a blessing for Sarfaraz Khan, who would be desperate to make his mark and cement his place in the red-ball team. 

Will Sarfaraz Khan get a chance to play IND vs SL 1st Test?

Now the million-dollar question arises: Will Sarfaraz Khan actually find a place in India’s playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka?

India will stick with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as their opening batters. Devdutt Padikkal is going to bat at number three in Sudharsan’s absence, having struck a majestic hundred in the three-day warm-up fixture.

Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant form the backbone of the Indian middle order, while Manav Suthar will likely get into the playing XI due to his all-round prowess.

In such a scenario, Dhruv Jurel is the lone competitor to Sarfaraz Khan. And quite interestingly, the keeper-batter has not looked convincing in Tests, averaging 34.1 after 16 innings.

In fact, Jurel managed only 18 runs in the warm-up match across both innings combined. Also, given that Sarfaraz is highly rated for his dominant game against spin, we reckon there will be a toss-up between him and Jurel for a specialist batter’s spot in the middle order when Team India takes on Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle.

Also Read: George Dockrell To Return? Ireland Predicted Playing XI vs Afghanistan- 3rd ODI 2026