India's Top Bowler Sidelined
Jasprit Bumrah, India's renowned fast bowler, has been ruled out of the forthcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. This development comes as a result of a knee injury he sustained during a one-day international match against England in Cardiff last month.
Replacement Announced
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Auqib Nabi, an uncapped fast bowler, will replace Bumrah in the squad. At 32, Bumrah is recuperating from the injury at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Despite being initially named in the squad pending a fitness test, Bumrah's persistent knee discomfort has led to his withdrawal.
New Opportunity for Nabi
Auqib Nabi, 29, hails from Jammu and Kashmir and has made a name for himself in domestic cricket. Over the past two Ranji Trophy seasons, he has taken an impressive 104 wickets. His performance in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, where he claimed 60 wickets, was instrumental in his team's first championship win.
Nabi's recent performances for India A on their Sri Lanka tour, where he took six wickets in two first-class matches, further solidified his position. His call-up marks a significant milestone as he becomes the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to be selected for the senior Test side.
Additional Fitness Concerns
In addition to Bumrah's absence, the BCCI has noted that batter Sai Sudharsan's participation will depend on his fitness clearance. The series is set to begin in Galle on August 15, with the second Test following in Colombo on August 23.
India's Squad for the Tour
The team for the Sri Lanka tour includes: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, and Auqib Nabi.
