Sai Sudharsan Not Travelling With India Squad To Sri Lanka; Will He Miss 1st Test?

Sai Sudharsan Not Travelling With India [Source: AFP]

Team India has departed for Colombo for the upcoming 2-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Notably, the series is an important one as it forms part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC 2025-27 cycle). 

Both India and Sri Lanka will be eager to bounce back after disappointing results in their previous Test assignments and improve their position in the WTC standings.

However, one notable absentee from the travelling squad was young batter Sai Sudharsan. His absence has raised questions about his fitness and whether he will be available for the opening Test.

Sai Sudharsan Not Travelling With India Squad To Sri Lanka

According to RevSportz, Sai Sudharsan did not travel with the Indian team when they left for Sri Lanka. Earlier, Cricbuzz had reported that there was uncertainty over his departure, as his selection was subject to fitness clearance. 

The report added that sources close to the left-handed batter remained confident that he would join the squad later this week if he did not travel with the team initially.

“It is, however, not entirely clear whether Sai Sudharsan, whose selection was subject to fitness clearance, will travel with the squad on Tuesday. Sources close to the left-hander remain confident that he will join the team, if not on Tuesday, then later this week,” Cricbuzz report said.

It is important to note that Sai Sudharsan is recovering from a toe injury. Initially, the nature of the injury was not disclosed. However, reports suggest that the 24-year-old is making steady progress and expected to regain full fitness soon.

At present, Sudharsan is at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), where he is undergoing rehabilitation. Although he has resumed batting, the medical team is yet to give him the final clearance to join the Indian squad. As a result, he remains in India while the rest of the team has already left for Colombo.

Also Read: BCCI Selects 2 More Indian Players For Sri Lanka Tour 2026

Will Sai Sudharsan Miss IND vs SL 1st Test?

Notably, India are scheduled to play a 3-day warm-up match before IND vs SL Test series begins. The practice game will start on August 7 at the NCC Ground in Colombo. Considering his current recovery status, Sudharsan could miss the warm-up fixture. However, that does not necessarily rule him out of the 1st Test.

Reports suggest that he is expected to join the Indian squad later this week, by August 9, 2026. Since the 1st Test against Sri Lanka begins on August 15, he still has enough time to recover and prove his match fitness. 

Even so, there has been no official confirmation that he will definitely be available for the series opener.

Why India Are Keen To Have Sai Sudharsan Back?

It is important note that Sai Sudharsan's place in the Indian Test squad has often been questioned as the young left-hander is yet to fully establish himself at the international level. 

So far, he has scored 383 runs in 12 innings. As a result, there were discussions about whether he deserved to continue in the playing XI. 

However, the 24-year-old silenced many of his critics with an excellent performance for India A during tour of Sri Lanka in June. He amassed 332 runs in just four innings at an outstanding average of 110.67, including two centuries. 

Therefore, Gautam Gambhir and co. will be encouraged by his steady recovery from injury and will hope he is fit for the Test series.

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