Sai Sudharsan ruled out of India’s Sri Lanka Test series; Padikkal emerges as front‑runner for No.3

India batter Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the Sri Lanka vs India Test series in Sri Lanka ahead of the opening Test in Galle on August 15, the touring side confirmed ahead of their warm-up schedule in Colombo.

Team India have landed in Sri Lanka and are engaged in a three-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo as preparations continue; the second Test is scheduled to begin at the Sinhalese Cricket Stadium on August 23. The touring squad has already lost Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy to injury, Jasprit Bumrah was subsequently ruled out of the campaign, and captain Shubman Gill was struck on his finger and is not taking part in the ongoing warm-up game.

The 24-year-old Sudharsan sustained a toe injury ahead of the tour and had been undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after being added to the squad with the hope of regaining fitness. Latest updates confirm he will not feature in the Test series, removing a selection option for the visitors ahead of the first Test.

Sudharsan had begun to establish himself at No. 3, scoring 81 in India’s last Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. He also featured in two unofficial Tests against Sri Lanka A, compiling scores of 132 and 7* in one match and 165 and 25* in the other, finishing the series with 332 runs at an average of 116 to top the scorer list.

The squad assessment noted that Sudharsan’s ability to bat late against spinners would have been valuable for India. With that vacancy, the Shubman Gill‑led side must identify a dependable No. 3; Devdutt Padikkal has emerged as the front‑runner after making 103 off 121 balls against the SLC XI in the ongoing warm-up game.

Devdutt Padikkal’s 103 off 121 in Colombo places him as the leading candidate to replace Sudharsan in the playing XI for the opening Test in Galle on August 15.