Squad changes for Sri Lanka Test series
India has announced its Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, featuring some new faces. Pacer Auqib Nabi has been named as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out due to an injury. All-rounder Saransh Jain, another uncapped player, was part of the initial squad selection.
The Men’s Selection Committee confirmed the squad for the series, which will include a four-day practice match in Colombo starting on August 7. The first Test is scheduled from August 15-19 in Galle, followed by the second Test from August 23-27 in Colombo.
The availability of Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan was subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI COE. Additionally, Washington Sundar was not available for selection for the first Test.
New additions to the squad
Auqib Nabi, a 29-year-old pacer from Jammu and Kashmir, played a significant role in his state’s first Ranji Trophy triumph, earning the player of the tournament award. In the 2025-26 edition of the Ranji Trophy, he secured 60 wickets in ten matches, marking the third-highest tally for an Indian pacer in that season. Across two Ranji Trophy seasons, Auqib has taken a total of 104 wickets, including 13 five-wicket hauls in 18 matches. Seven of these five-wicket hauls came in the second edition, which equals the most by any pacer in a first-class season in India. He also has a century in List A cricket, scoring 114* against Hyderabad in a Vijay Hazare Trophy game. Auqib was also part of the India A side that toured Sri Lanka, where he claimed six wickets in the two matches he played.
Saransh Jain, a 33-year-old spin all-rounder, bowls right-arm off-break and bats left-handed. He has an extensive first-class career, having taken 188 wickets and scored 2223 runs at averages of 27.30 and 31.75, respectively. In three of the last four Ranji Trophy seasons, Jain has consistently scored over 300 runs and taken 25 wickets each season. His most recent season was particularly strong, with 518 runs at an average of 57.55 and 30 wickets at 20.43. He has recorded two first-class centuries and 14 half-centuries in his career. Jain was also named Player of the Tournament in the Duleep Trophy, where he scored two half-centuries and took 16 wickets in just two matches. He was part of the India A squad that toured Sri Lanka, scoring 70* and taking six wickets in the second four-day match in Galle, one of the venues for the upcoming Test series.
India’s Test squad for Sri Lanka
The squad for the Tests against Sri Lanka includes:
- Shubman Gill [C]
- KL Rahul [VC]
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Rishabh Pant [WK]
- Sai Sudharsan
- Dhruv Jurel [WK]
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Manav Suthar
- Mohd. Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Gurnoor Brar
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Saransh Jain
- Auqib Nabi (replacement for Jasprit Bumrah)
India will be looking to build on the recent experience of some players in Sri Lanka to improve their standing in the ICC World Test Championship.
The team will play a four-day practice match in Colombo, starting on August 7.
Source: icc-cricket.com
