Sai Sudharsan Ruled Out Of India vs Sri Lanka Test Series

Sai Sudharsan ruled out [Source: AFP]

Team India continues to get plagued with injuries in the lead up to their two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka. Mere days after legendary fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the tour, young top-order batter Sai Sudharsan has also bowed out of the series owing to an injury. 

The Indian team management suffered this fresh setback just a week prior to their series-opening first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle.

Sai Sudharsan joins Jasprit Bumrah, ruled out of SL tour

Sai Sudharsan has now joined Jasprit Bumrah to become the second Indian cricketer to get ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, after getting selected for the tour by the BCCI selection committee. 

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The 24-year-old was already in race to clear his fitness before the series, as he worked towards his recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. 

The Indian selection committee still selected the talented top-order batter for the tour, with hopes that he will recover from his toe injury in time. 

Who will replace Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah in Team India?

A few days ago, the BCCI selection committee named Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi as a replacement for injured fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. 

Earlier this year, Nabi starred in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic 2025-26 Ranji Trophy win by clinching the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award. The speedster picked up 60 wickets in India’s premier first-class season, and also clipped six wickets in India A’s two-match tour of Sri Lanka in Galle in June and July. 

While the BCCI is yet to confirm the replacement of Sai Sudharsan, several reports indicate that RCB star Devdutt Padikkal will be considered as India’s number three for the series. Padikkal is already named in Team India squad, and recently plundered a majestic century against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in his team’s three-day tour match in Colombo. 

The elegant left-handed batter averages 43.18 in first-class cricket, but has aggregated only 90 runs in his three Test innings so far. 

Team India marred with injuries for must-win tour

The upcoming tour of Sri Lanka marks a must-win one for the Indian cricket team, in context of the ongoing 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

However, with key players already ruled out and more fitness concerns looming, India’s preparations have been dealt a major blow ahead of their crucial assignment.

Apart from Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah, star all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was not selected in Team India squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka owing to his injury. While Washington Sundar is selected in the Indian squad, the spin-bowling all-rounder might be a doubtful starter for the series.

To sum up, India’s injury woes have left their preparations for the Sri Lanka tour in a precarious position, with the team management now facing the daunting task of finding the right replacements and combinations

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