NewsIndia

By Ishaan Kapoor — 26 July 2026 — 3 min read

Squad Selection Nears

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, noting that selectors are evaluating fitness updates for key players.

The squad, led by Shubman Gill, will participate in two Test matches as part of their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) commitments. The first Test is scheduled from August 15 to 19 at Galle International Cricket Stadium (GICS), followed by the second Test from August 23 to 27 at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo.

Player Fitness Concerns

A primary concern for the selection committee is the fitness of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah missed the third One Day International (ODI) against England at Lord’s due to an impact injury and reactive swelling on his left knee, sustained during the second game in Cardiff.

Another player whose fitness is being assessed is off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar. Sundar is currently recovering from a right hamstring strain, which also kept him out of the match at Lord’s. It is not yet known if he will be fit in time for the series.

Sources close to the developments indicate that Bumrah‘s recovery process is being monitored, with the Test series still several weeks away, potentially allowing him enough time to recover. However, it remains uncertain if he will travel with the squad in early August.

Anticipated Returns and Bowling Options

Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is expected to return to the Test side. He was previously rested from a match against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh and was not selected for the ODI series in England. His all-round skills are anticipated to be valuable against Sri Lanka.

The pace bowling duties are likely to be shared among 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 made an impression against Afghanistan.

Washington Sundar could potentially be the third spinner, while left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey is expected to serve as a backup slow bowler. The Indian team is scheduled to arrive in Colombo on August 4 and will play a four-day warm-up match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) from August 7 to 10 to help them acclimatise to the local conditions.

Upcoming Review Meeting

Separately, the BCCI plans to hold a review meeting early next month to discuss the national team’s recent white-ball performances. This meeting is expected to take place in August, following the conclusion of the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe.

Top BCCI officials, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, Centre of Excellence (COE) head of cricket VVS Laxman, and the five-member selection panel, are understood to be meeting at the headquarters in Mumbai.

This review comes after recent T20I series defeats in Ireland and England, as well as an ODI series loss. The meeting is expected to address long-term tactical planning, execution of game plans in overseas conditions, and the broader roadmap leading into the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup.

Source: m.rediff.com