Jasprit Bumrah
The biggest blow for India is the absence of their pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah. He has been officially ruled out of the Sri Lanka series due to a left knee injury sustained during the recent ODI series against England. Initially named in the squad
subject to fitness, the swelling in his knee was deemed too serious to risk, especially with a packed international calendar ahead. The BCCI has confirmed he is undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. His absence severely weakens the pace attack and puts immense pressure on Mohammed Siraj and the other seamers to perform in challenging conditions. Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi has been named as his replacement.
Hardik Pandya
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya's absence continues to be a major concern. He has been out of international action since the T20 World Cup, dealing with multiple fitness issues, including back spasms during the IPL and a recent quadriceps injury. While not a red-ball regular in recent times, his unavailability robs the team of a seam-bowling all-rounder, a crucial asset for providing balance, especially in overseas Tests. Currently undergoing extensive recovery and fitness management in Bengaluru, there is no clear timeline for his return to the national setup.
Washington Sundar
Off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar is another key player who will miss at least the first Test against Sri Lanka. He suffered a hamstring injury during the England ODI series, which has forced him onto the sidelines. His absence is a significant setback, as his tight-bowling and handy lower-order batting would have been invaluable on Sri Lankan pitches. The BCCI noted his unavailability during the squad announcement, and his fitness will be closely monitored ahead of the second Test.
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Looked upon as a potential backup for Hardik Pandya, young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is also out of contention. He picked up a left quadriceps injury during the ODI series against Afghanistan in June and subsequently aggravated it, ruling him out of the tours to Ireland and England as well. His injury further depletes India's already thin pool of seam-bowling all-rounders, a role that is critical for team composition in Test cricket. He remains at the Centre of Excellence for rehabilitation.
Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy
The fast-bowling and spin departments have taken further hits with Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy both sidelined with hamstring injuries. Both players sustained their injuries during the T20I series against England. Rana's case is particularly unfortunate, as he had only recently returned to international cricket after a knee surgery that kept him out of the entire 2026 IPL season. Chakravarthy, a mystery spinner who can be a handful in subcontinent conditions, is also undergoing an extended rehabilitation process, with no confirmed date for his return.
The Question Mark over Sai Sudharsan
While not on the confirmed injury list, the availability of top-order batter B Sai Sudharsan is subject to fitness clearance. He reportedly did not travel with the team to Sri Lanka initially, as he was recovering from a niggle at the Centre of Excellence. Having been in excellent form for India A in Sri Lanka recently before getting injured, his potential absence would be a blow to the batting lineup's stability. With the first Test starting on August 15, the team management will be anxiously awaiting a final verdict on his fitness.
