India have made a late decision to replace Sai Sudharsan with Sarfaraz Khan in the Test side for the upcoming series in Sri Lanka after he missed the previous series with a right-toe injury.
The BCCI made the announcement on August 9 and Sarfaraz would now become a part of the India squad for the first Test in Galle, which starts from August 15. Sudharsan was recovering at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru before the two-match series but failed to bounce back in time. ([BCCI TV][1])
Sarfaraz is coming back to the Test form after last playing for India in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He is yet to make his sixth appearance in Test cricket, having amassed 371 runs in 11 appearances, including a century and three half-centuries.
His name is also the latest in a very productive Ranji Trophy season of 2025-26. Sarfaraz was also good with the bat, and ran a comfortable 429 in nine innings (53.62), which could help the selectors keep him in the squad.
Sarfaraz will be given a Test call up again.
With call-up, Sarfaraz gets another shot at getting a spot in the middle order of the Indian team. He last played in a Test match at home against New Zealand in 2024, and he has been a long time absent from the international fold.
The 28-year-old has also been added to the West Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy (2026-27) with his international engagement in Sri Lanka also coming in the way for the domestic competition.
Sarfaraz hasn’t made a single professional appearance since he made his debut for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL this April and the Sri Lanka series is the next big time he will be seen in action.
Having Sai Sudharsan sidelined, the selection of Devdutt Padikkal as the prime choice for the No three in the squad for India may be inevitable. Padikkal bolstered his cause with a 100 in his three-day warm-up against Sri Lanka Cricket XI.
Sai Sudharsan was ruled out due to a toe injury.
The loss of Sudharsan is yet another blow to the Indian Test plans. However, the lefty had been on the list to miss the Sri Lanka series due to a stress reaction in his right toe at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. ([BCCI TV][1])
The youngster, who was reported to be supported by the team management, was expected to stay on at No. 3. His departure has now left other batters such as Padikkal and Sarfaraz with a chance to make it big.
The Indian squad for Sri Lanka has been altered for the Tests.The India squad for Sri Lanka has been revamped for the Tests.
Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan. ([BCCI TV][1])
The first Test will be held at Galle from August 15 while the second Test will be conducted at Colombo from August 23.
Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of Sri Lanka Test series while Sarfaraz Khan has been named for replacement, reports bcci.tv.