Shai Hope Ruled Out Of West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st Test With Injury

West Indies suffer major blow [Source: AFP]

The West Indies cricket team has suffered a major blow mere hours prior to their series-opening first Test against Sri Lanka. Senior wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope has been ruled out of the match owing to an injury. 

Hope recently led the West Indies team in their home ODI and T20I series against the visiting Sri Lankans, winning the latter of the two rubbers by a 2-1 margin this month. 

Shai Hope ruled out of first Test vs Sri Lanka

West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Shai Hope has been ruled out of the first Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka in the Caribbean. The cricketer is suffering with a strain on his left shoulder. 

Also Read- Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua, Pitch Report, Weather Report For WI vs SL 1st Test 2026

It is worth noting that earlier this week, Hope sustained an injury during a West Indies team training session ahead of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. 

Shai Hope was originally included in the 15-player West Indies squad for the two-match home series against Sri Lanka last week by the Cricket West Indies (CWI). As of now, the board is yet to name his replacement. 

However, the West Indies team management will be expected to come up with an official replacement for Hope in a few minutes, i.e., shortly before the toss in Antigua. 

Joshua Da Silva likely to make his Test return

Fellow wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva will likely make his return to the West Indies playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka as a replacement for injured senior pro, Shai Hope. 

With 33 Test caps to his name, Joshua played the last of those matches way back in December 2024 during a home series against Bangladesh. The cricketer was recalled for the West Indies squad for the series against Sri Lanka after a gap of more than a year-and-a-half following his prolific run for the Trinidad and Tobago team in the 2026 West Indies Championship. 

The 28-year-old top scored in the tournament, having scored 413 runs in just seven innings at an astonishing average of 59.

Notably, Amir Jangoo finished the Championship as its second highest run-maker behind Silva with an aggregate of 411 runs in seven innings at 68.50. Jangoo is another West Indies wicketkeeper-batter who was included in the West Indies squad for the Sri Lanka series, after playing the only Test of his career way back in January 2025. 

The 29-year-old is another candidate, alongside Joshua Da Silva, to fill in for Shai Hope as West Indies wicketkeeper-batter for the first Test. 

Roston Chase will continue to lead the side, and he is accompanied by fellow star performers like Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Brandon King among others. Here is a look at the entire West Indies squad for the series against Sri Lanka.

West Indies Test Squad vs Sri Lanka

Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope (ruled out of first Test), Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales.

West Indies only winless side in WTC 2025-27

The series marks a must-win one for the West Indies team, considering they are the only side in the ongoing WTC 2025-27 cycle without a win. Currently over halfway into the championship, the men from the Caribbean are fittingly ranked at the bottom of the points table with seven defeats from eight matches. 

Also Read- India-Origin Star To Play? Ireland's Predicted Playing XI For 1st T20I Vs India 2026