India top-order batter ruled out of Sri Lanka Tests

Top-order batter Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, the BCCI confirmed on Sunday, 9 August.

The statement also said that Sudharsan has made significant progress in his recovery from the right toe stress reaction and is recovering well.

The 24-year-old's absence adds to a long list of injuries for India, with Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar, among others, also missing the two-Test series.

Sarfaraz Khan, who has played six Tests for India, has been named as the replacement in the squad.

The series is a key step in India and Sri Lanka's WTC final prospects, with the two teams in fifth and sixth place in the standings. India have a point percentage of 48.15 while Sri Lanka have 41.67.

Sudharsan's absence leaves a big hole in the top-order, but a strong showing of Devdutt Padikkal at No.3 in the warm-up match should put India at ease.

In his last Test appearance, Sudharsan had scored a composed 81 in a win against Afghanistan. 

Meanwhile, skipper Shubman Gill, who didn't bat in the first innings of the tour game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI, returned in action for the second innings, contributing 44 runs off 54 deliveries.

India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule shared that come the first Test against Sri Lanka starting August 15, Gill will be raring to lead the visitors. 

"It was just a precaution more than anything else," Bahutule said after the end of the tour game. "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 on the first day.

"The way he batted in the second innings was flawless, and he's very much ready for the Test match."

India's updated squad: Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan

Test series schedule:

First Test: August 15-19, Galle
Second Test: August 23-27, Colombo