Former Indian batsman Hanuma Vihari was surprised by BCCI’s move to announce the Test squad so soon for the upcoming Sri Lanka series. The former batsman said that BCCI usually announces its Test team very close to the beginning of the series.
But this time, the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series in Sri Lanka was announced on 28 July, almost three weeks before the opening Test on 15 August. Ahead of the Test series, Irfan Pathan criticized the Indian selectors for repeatedly ignoring Auqib Nabi.
Hanuma Vihari explains why BCCI announced India’s Test team early
Hanuma Vihari said that this happened because captain Shubman Gill had earlier talked about the need for a 15-day preparation camp before every Test series. Meanwhile, AB de Villiers questioned Rishabh Pant’s Test selection and supported the inclusion of Saransh Jain.
After embarrassing Test series defeats to New Zealand and South Africa at home, Gill had said that players need enough time to prepare for red-ball cricket rather than jumping straight into Test cricket from the IPL or white-ball matches.
Keeping this in mind, the BCCI has not only selected the Test squad for the Sri Lanka series early, but has also arranged for a four-day practice match in Colombo from August 7. Vihari feels that this arrangement will help the players adjust to Sri Lankan conditions and perform better.
Hanuma Vihari said on his YouTube channel, “BCCI announced the Test squad very early. We don’t see that often, because usually a Test series is right after an IPL or an ODI or a T20 series. I think the BCCI is obliged to have Shubman Gill’s input, and keeping that in mind, they have announced the squad early. India will also play a practice match before the series, and you don’t see that often.”
Hanuma Vihari gave a big warning to Team India about WTC
Vihari also said that the Sri Lanka series is very important for India’s chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. They are currently placed fifth in the WTC 2025-27 points table with a points percentage of 48.15 per cent with four wins and four losses from nine matches.
He further added, “This series is important for India, because if they win both the games, they will have a chance to move up in the WTC table. If you win both the games in a two-match series, the chances of the percentage going up become higher. This series, then the series against New Zealand and Australia, will determine whether India qualifies for the finals or not.”
Hanuma Vihari warns India not to take Sri Lanka lightly
However, Vihari warned India not to take Sri Lanka lightly. He said that Sri Lanka is always a dangerous team at home as their pitches favor spin bowlers, so Indian batsmen should avoid playing too many sweep shots in the upcoming Test series.
He signed off by saying, “Sri Lanka are a dangerous team at home because they have slow turners. Indian batsmen do not play sweep shots much. They have to practice doing that. In international cricket, proper practice will only help in making things easier during matches.”
Notably, India will play the first Test from August 15 in Galle, while the second Test will begin on August 23 in Colombo. This will also be India’s first Test tour of Sri Lanka since 2017.
