Six India players ruled out of two-Test Sri Lanka tour starting August 15, 2026

Six Indian players will miss India’s two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka in Galle and Colombo, which begins on August 15, 2026.

India are currently fifth in the ICC World Test Championship points table, behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh, and must finish in the top two to qualify for the WTC 2025–27 final. The Shubman Gill-led side face a demanding schedule, with Test series against New Zealand and Australia to follow the Sri Lanka visit.

Injuries have disrupted selection choices ahead of the tour, with more than 10 players at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru working on their fitness. Six players who featured in India’s Test setup in recent times will not be available for selection for the Sri Lanka series.

The absentees include premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who suffered swelling in his knees while playing the ODI series against England. Pace options are further reduced as Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are both ruled out with hamstring injuries.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar is sidelined with a quadriceps injury, while Akash Deep is out with a lower-back stress fracture. Sai Sudharsan was the most recent player to be ruled out after suffering a toe stress fracture.

Team management have acknowledged that the loss of these regular contributors has affected selection flexibility and squad balance for the Sri Lanka tour. Rehabilitation work at the Centre of Excellence is ongoing as those players aim to return to fitness.

The two-match Test series in Galle and Colombo is scheduled to begin on August 15, 2026, and forms part of India’s campaign in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27.