Washington Sundar set to miss Galle Test as India prepare for Sri Lanka series

Washington Sundar is expected to miss the first Test of India’s two-match series in Sri Lanka in Galle, which is scheduled to begin on August 15, and reports say his chances of featuring in the second Test at the SSC in Colombo from August 23 to 27 are very slim.

India are preparing for the two-Test tour with the opening match in Galle on August 15 and the second at the SSC, Colombo from August 23 to 27; the squad has already been affected by fitness concerns, selectors have been monitoring the availability of several players, and team management is continuing preparations for the opening fixture.

Sundar suffered a hamstring injury during India’s white-ball tour of England, was ruled out of the first Test, and although he was named in the squad for the second Test his availability remained subject to his fitness and recovery.

"At this moment, the chances of Washington going to Sri Lanka are very slim. The team management has been told to plan accordingly. The BCCI medical team is wary of pushing him into a Test match. There have been a few instances where players have broken down immediately after recovering from an injury," a BCCI source told TOI.

Sundar’s likely unavailability reduces India’s options among spin-bowling all-rounders; Ravindra Jadeja has returned to the squad after missing the one-off Test against Afghanistan, and other spin options named are Saransh Jain, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar.

India will begin the series in Galle on August 15 and then play the second Test at the SSC in Colombo from August 23 to 27.