India’s national cricket team’s experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is all set to make a comeback with the upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka. After the disappointing tour of Ireland and England, India will now aim to make a strong comeback on the Zimbabwe tour and then the Sri Lanka tour.
While the white-ball team led by VVS Laxman has already reached Zimbabwe for the three-match T20 series starting in Harare from July 23, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is likely to soon announce the squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin says that the selectors should not exclude Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
After England’s disappointment, India focused its attention on Sri Lanka
The India national cricket team is all set to travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series, part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle 2025-27.
Some big names like Ravindra Jadeja are likely to return on this tour, mainly due to Washington Sundar’s injury. Earlier, Venkatesh Prasad had defended Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli amid the talk of retirement.
The two-match Test series will begin in Galle on August 15 and India are expected to leave for Sri Lanka around August 4. Before the first Test, Shubman Gill and his team will also play four-day practice matches to prepare for the WTC Test series.
Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah are ready to make a comeback in the blockbuster test against Sri Lanka.
According to a Times of India report, the Indian selection committee is set to announce the Test squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour soon, as they and the team management have already discussed during the recently concluded white-ball series in England.
The biggest news is that both Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to return to the whites for the Sri Lanka tour after losing the only Test match against Afghanistan on home soil last month.
Jadeja’s return is a big boost for Team India. He was rested for the Afghanistan Tests after a long IPL 2026 season, but the team management still sees him as India’s first-choice spinner in Test cricket. His experience with both bat and ball will be very important in Sri Lankan conditions.
BCCI is waiting for Washington Sundar’s fitness report before final decision
Meanwhile, all eyes are on Washington Sundar. The off-spin all-rounder suffered a right hamstring injury during the recent three-match ODI series against England and missed the final match at Lord’s. Doctors advised him to undergo a scan in London and the report was sent to experts for detailed examination.
Even though Sundar has a minor strain in his hamstring, it may take around two weeks for him to be fully fit. He is now expected to report to the BCCI Center of Excellence, where he will have to undergo further tests before getting fitness clearance. The selectors are waiting for his medical report before taking a final decision on his selection for the Sri Lanka tour.
If Sundar is not fit in time, the selectors will have to choose another spin-bowling all-rounder. Harsh Dubey, who was part of the squad for the Afghanistan Test, may be retained for the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka. Off-spinner Saransh Jain is also in the race.
India’s pace attack almost certain for Sri Lanka Test
Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar are expected to remain in the team. India’s pace attack is almost certain. Jasprit Bumrah is leading the attack which is likely to include Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar.
Not much change is expected in the batting department. However, the selectors are still to take a decision on Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is recuperating at the BCCI Center of Excellence. If he fails to maintain match fitness, India may choose a specialist player in his place.