• Source:JND

India's selectors are facing several fitness concerns to deal with ahead of picking the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. With the team set to be announced soon, injuries to a few key players have made the selection process more challenging.

According to reports, speedster Harshit Rana and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy are unavailable for selection because of injuries. Spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar is also expected to miss the opening Test, while the availability of Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan will depend on their fitness.

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Sundar is unlikely to recover in time for the first Test, which begins in Galle on August 15. His chances of featuring in the second Test at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club, starting on August 23, will also depend on how well he recovers over the next few weeks.

Bumrah, meanwhile, has been advised to rest until July 30. After completing his break, he is expected to report to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for further assessment. Sudharsan is also recovering from injury and is said to be making good progress. Both players could still be included in the squad, but only if they receive medical clearance before the series.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the Test squad on July 28 after a virtual selection meeting. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had confirmed the date earlier.

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Ravindra Jadeja Set for Comeback

Experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is likely to return to the Test squad after missing the previous series.

However, there are questions over the place of Harsh Dubey. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar impressed everyone by taking seven wickets on his Test debut, making the competition for a spin-bowling spot much tougher.

Among the fast bowlers, Gurnoor Brar has strengthened his chances of selection with impressive performances for India A against Sri Lanka A. He picked up 10 wickets in the series, including a six-wicket haul. Earlier, he also claimed two wickets in each of the first two ODIs against Afghanistan before an expensive outing at Lord's, where he conceded 97 runs.

With India's pace attack facing injury concerns, Brar could keep his place in the squad. Domestic pacer Auqib Nabi Dar also made a strong first impression by taking four wickets on his India A debut, although he was unable to repeat that performance in the second match.

India to Play Warm-Up Match Before Test Series

Before the Test series begins, India will play a warm-up match from August 7 to help the players prepare for the conditions in Sri Lanka.

Important World Test Championship Series

The Sri Lanka tour is an important one for India in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.

Shubman Gill's team currently sits fifth in the WTC standings with four wins, four defeats and one draw from nine Tests. A successful series in Sri Lanka would improve India's position in the table and strengthen their chances of reaching the WTC final.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, head into the series after a disappointing tour of the West Indies, where they lost the two-match Test series 1-0.


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