The Indian national cricket team is likely to miss several first-choice cricketers for its upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka in mid-August. The fitness of many cricketers is under question before the two-match Test series.
Recently, the Indian cricket team has been forced to reshuffle its playing combinations across all formats due to several injuries. Since many cricketers are still recovering and in the process of gaining match fitness, the Indian team management may have to prepare the squad for the Sri Lanka series without many first-team players.
Many star cricketers are unlikely to play for India against Sri Lanka
Cricketers whose fitness is a matter of concern include players like Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Sai Sudarshan and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The medical unit of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not declared any of these five cricketers fit to play.
Dainik Jagran correspondent Abhishek Tripathi provided detailed fitness updates of Sundar, Bumrah, Rana, Sudarshan and Reddy. Needless to say, the current fitness update of any of these five cricketers is not satisfactory, as all of them are under recovery session.
Which players are likely to miss the Test series against Sri Lanka completely?
According to Tripathi’s ‘X’ post, Washington Sundar is going to miss 1stscheduled tribe His participation in the Test and second Test against Sri Lanka will depend on his fitness. Jasprit Bumrah is also unsure about the series. The fast bowler has been sidelined for now and will have to report to the Center of Excellence (CoE) after July 30 ahead of the India vs Sri Lanka Test series.
Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, two fast bowling all-rounders, are set to miss the entire series, while among these five injured cricketers, top-order batsman Sai Sudarshan is the most likely to face Sri Lanka. There is news that Sudarshan’s condition is improving.
“Washington Sundar: Unavailable for the first Test; availability for the second Test is fitness dependent. Jasprit Bumrah: Fitness dependent. Will rest till July 30, after which he will report to the Center of Excellence (CoE). Sai Sudarshan: Fitness dependent; recovering well. Harshit Rana: Unavailable. Nitish Kumar Reddy: Unavailable,” Abhishek Sharma’s ‘X’ post read.
India Test Team – Availability and Fitness Updates
* Washington Sundar: Unavailable for first Test; Availability for second Test depending on fitness.
*Jasprit Bumrah: Dependent on fitness. Will rest till July 30, after which will report to the Center of Excellence (CoE).
*…– Abhishek Tripathi/Abhishek Tripitaka (@abishereporter) July 26, 2026
Injuries to Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Sai Sudarshan and Nitish Kumar Reddy:
Washington Sundar: Suffered a right hamstring injury during the second ODI against England in Cardiff.
Jasprit Bumrah: Reactive swelling on the left knee, which persisted while fielding during the second ODI in Cardiff.
Harshit Rana: Grade one biceps femoris muscle strain (hamstring injury), picked up during the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge.
Sai Sudarshan: Suffered left elbow injury during Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2026 match.
Nitish Kumar Reddy: Injured left quadriceps during the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamshala.
The Indian cricket team wants to make a strong comeback in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) by winning the upcoming Test match. Currently, the team is ranked fifth in the nine-team competition, far away from the top two spots in the rankings. The team has to face Sri Lanka from 15th August to 27th August.
