NEW DELHI, India — Sarfaraz Khan has been named as Sai Sudharsan’s replacement in India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka after Sudharsan was ruled out with a right toe stress reaction. The first Test is scheduled to begin on August 15 in Galle, with the second Test set to be played from August 23 at the SSC in Colombo.
- Sarfaraz Khan returns to India’s Test squad as Sai Sudharsan’s replacement.
- Sudharsan has made significant progress in recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
- Sarfaraz has played six Tests, scoring 371 runs with one century and three fifties.
- India’s Sri Lanka series is part of the World Test Championship, with India currently fifth in the standings.
Sarfaraz Khan replaces injured Sai Sudharsan
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has added Sarfaraz Khan to the Test squad after Sudharsan was ruled out of the Sri Lanka series because of a right toe stress reaction. Sudharsan has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and has made significant progress, according to the information provided by the board.
Sarfaraz is set to join the Indian squad before the team travels to Galle for the opening Test. His selection brings an experienced domestic batter back into the Test setup after his most recent international appearance came in 2024.
Sarfaraz’s Test record and recent domestic form
Sarfaraz made his Test debut in 2024 and has featured in six Tests for India. Across those matches, he has scored 371 runs, including one century and three half-centuries.
He was part of India’s squad for the 2024-25 tour of Australia but did not play a match. He was subsequently not included in the squad for India’s England tour the following year.
His domestic record has continued to strengthen his case. During the 2025 Ranji Trophy season, Sarfaraz was Mumbai’s third-highest run-scorer, making 429 runs in seven matches at an average of 53.62. His first-class average of 64.73 is among the highest for players who have batted in at least 50 innings.
Devdutt Padikkal in contention for No. 3 spot
With Sudharsan unavailable, the batting order could see a change at the top. Devdutt Padikkal appears to be the leading candidate for the No. 3 position after scoring a century in India’s practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI.
Sarfaraz’s inclusion therefore adds another middle-order option to India’s revised squad, although the supplied material does not confirm the final playing XI for the first Test.
India face injury concerns before Sri Lanka Tests
Sudharsan’s absence is another setback for an Indian side dealing with several injury-related changes before the Sri Lanka tour. Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar are among the players ruled out, according to the supplied information.
Captain Shubman Gill also missed batting in India’s first innings of the tour game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI. However, India’s spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said the decision was precautionary rather than a reflection of a serious concern.
“It was just a precaution more than anything else. Gill has been absolutely fine and he’s been training and the management decided we could just take the precaution of not putting him in the first day.”
Gill returned in the second innings and scored 44 from 54 balls as India completed the chase on the final day of the practice match. Bahutule described his batting as flawless and said the captain was ready for the Test match.
India’s Sri Lanka Tests important for WTC campaign
The two-Test series will form part of the World Test Championship campaign. India currently occupy fifth place after four wins and four losses from nine matches.
The opening Test will be played in Galle from August 15, followed by the Colombo Test at the SSC from August 23. Sarfaraz’s late addition gives India another specialist batting option as the team prepares for the two-match series.
India’s updated Test squad
| Player | Role/Status |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | Captain |
| KL Rahul | Vice-captain |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
| Manav Suthar | Bowler |
| Mohammed Siraj | Bowler |
| Prasidh Krishna | Bowler |
| Gurnoor Brar | Bowler |
| Devdutt Padikkal | Batter |
| Saransh Jain | Bowler |
| Auqib Nabi | Bowler |
| Sarfaraz Khan | Batter |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sarfaraz Khan added to India’s Sri Lanka Test squad?
Sarfaraz was added after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out of the two-Test series with a right toe stress reaction.
When will India play the first Test against Sri Lanka?
The first Test is scheduled to begin on August 15 in Galle, while the second Test will start on August 23 at the SSC in Colombo.
