India batter Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, after medical staff at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence advised that he needs more time to recover from an injury sustained on the India A tour of the island last month.
The left-hander was struck during the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A and has been rehabilitating at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru since. ESPNcricinfo reported the injury as a stress fracture in his foot.
The medical assessment
“Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Doctors have advised more time for biological healing. Significant improvement, but not yet sufficient for a safe return to Test cricket,” the BCCI’s sports science team said in an update, according to Ada Derana.
The team’s fitness advice added that “rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and cricket-specific loads should be increased gradually and under close monitoring,” describing the cautious approach as aimed at reducing the risk of recurrence and protecting long-term performance. The assessment has been passed to the team management and the national selection committee.
The decision is a notable loss for the tourists. Sudharsan scored centuries in both matches of the A tour before the injury, and had been the preferred option at number three.
Padikkal steps in
Devdutt Padikkal is set to take his place. He made an unbeaten 142 for India in the three-day warm-up against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo, an innings played out as news of Sudharsan’s unavailability reached the squad on the second day.
It is the second significant absence India have absorbed on this tour. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the series in early August and replaced by Auqib Nabi. Both Bumrah and Sudharsan had originally been named in the touring party subject to fitness clearance.
The first Test begins at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on August 15, with the second at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 23. The series forms part of the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.
Update: Sarfaraz Khan named as the replacement
The BCCI named Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan as Sudharsan’s replacement in the squad on Sunday (9), in a media advisory that also confirmed the injury as a right toe stress reaction.
“The Men’s Selection Committee has named Sarfaraz Khan as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka,” the board said. “He will link up with the Indian squad in Colombo before the team travels to Galle for the first Test match, starting August 15, 2026.”
The board added that Sudharsan “has made significant progress in his recovery” and that its medical team was continuing to monitor him.
A return after nearly two years
Sarfaraz, 28, last played a Test in the home series against New Zealand in 2024, in which India were whitewashed 3-0. He was among the few India batters to emerge with credit, scoring his maiden Test hundred in the second match at Pune.
He did not play again after that, carrying drinks through the five-Test series in Australia in December 2024 and January 2025 before losing his squad place altogether. He has played six Tests in all.
His first-class record remains among the strongest in the Indian game: 5,114 runs at 64.73 in 92 innings, with 17 centuries and 16 fifties. Ada Derana reported he has undergone a demanding fitness programme in recent months and shed several kilograms, and that his record against spin counted in his favour over Shaik Rasheed, who was also in contention.
Updated squad
India’s squad for the Test series is Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan.
Sources: Ada Derana, ESPNcricinfo, Ada Derana, BCCI.
