India’s Test squad for Sri Lanka tour to be announced by Tuesday

By Sanjay Menon — 26 July 2026 — 3 min read

Squad Selection and Player Fitness

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to announce India‘s Test squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka by Tuesday. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed this timeline. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will evaluate fitness updates for key players, including fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Washington Sundar, before finalising the squad.

Jasprit Bumrah‘s fitness is a primary concern. He missed the series-deciding third One Day International (ODI) against England at Lord’s due to an impact injury and reactive swelling on his left knee. While the Test series is still some weeks away, it remains to be seen if he will travel with the squad in early August.

Another player whose fitness is being monitored is off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar. He is currently recovering from a right hamstring strain, which also ruled him out of the match at Lord’s. His availability for the series, which marks India‘s first Test tour to Sri Lanka since 2017, is yet to be determined.

Anticipated Returns and Bowling Options

Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is expected to return to the Indian Test side. He was previously overlooked for the recent three-match ODI series against England and rested from a game against Afghanistan. His all-round skills are anticipated to be valuable against Sri Lanka.

The pace attack is likely to feature Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav is expected to lead, supported by left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who recently had an impressive debut against Afghanistan. Washington Sundar could be the third spinner, having taken a four-wicket haul in a recent match against Afghanistan, with left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey serving as a back-up slow bowler.

The Shubman Gill-led squad is scheduled to play two Test matches as part of their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) commitments. The first Test will take place at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from August 15 to August 19. The second and final Test is scheduled from August 23 to August 27 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.

Tour Schedule and Review Meeting

The Indian team is expected to arrive in Colombo on August 4. They are slated to play a four-day warm-up match from August 7 to August 10 at the Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo to help them acclimatise to the local conditions before the official series begins.

In addition to the squad announcement, the BCCI plans to hold a review meeting early next month, in August, to discuss the national team’s recent white-ball performances. This meeting is expected to involve top BCCI officials, head coach Gautam Gambhir, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, Centre of Excellence (COE) head of cricket VVS Laxman, and the five-member selection panel.

The review follows T20I series defeats in Ireland and England, as well as an ODI series loss. The discussions are anticipated to focus on long-term tactical planning, execution of game plans in overseas conditions, and the broader roadmap leading up to the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup.

Source: m.rediff.com