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 currently evaluating fitness updates for key players, including fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Washington Sundar.
The Shubman Gill-led squad is scheduled to play two Test matches in Sri Lanka as part of their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) commitments. The first Test is slated to begin on August 15 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium (GICS), concluding on August 19. The second and final Test will take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from August 23 to August 27.
Squad Selection Focus
A primary concern for the selection committee is the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah. He missed the recent series-deciding 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. While the Test series is still some weeks away, his recovery process is being closely monitored.
Washington Sundar is also recovering from a right hamstring strain, which prevented him from playing at Lord’s. It remains uncertain if he will be fit in time for the series. This tour marks India‘s first Test series in Sri Lanka since 2017.
Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is expected to return to the Indian Test side. Jadeja was rested from a recent game 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.
Pace and Spin Options
The pace attack is likely to feature Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. In the spin department, seasoned bowler Kuldeep Yadav is expected to lead, supported by left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who recently made an impressive debut against Afghanistan.
Washington Sundar could serve as the third spinner, having achieved a four-wicket haul in the second innings against Afghanistan at Mullanpur. Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey is also expected to continue as a back-up slow bowler for the squad.
The Indian team is scheduled to arrive in Colombo on August 4. They will play a four-day warm-up match from August 7 to August 10 at the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) in Colombo to help them acclimatise to the local conditions before the Test series begins.
Upcoming Review Meeting
In related news, the BCCI‘s review meeting to assess the national team’s recent white-ball performances is expected to take place early next month, following the conclusion of the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe. Devajit Saikia indicated that this meeting is scheduled for sometime in August.
Top BCCI officials are expected to convene at the headquarters in Mumbai. Attendees will likely include head coach Gautam Gambhir, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, Centre of Excellence (COE) head of cricket VVS Laxman, and the five-member selection panel.
This review meeting follows India‘s recent T20I series defeats in Ireland (2-0) and England (4-0), as well as an ODI series loss of 2-1. The discussions are anticipated to focus on long-term tactical planning, the execution of game plans in overseas conditions, and the broader roadmap leading into the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup.
The squad announcement for the Sri Lanka Test series is anticipated by Tuesday.
Source: m.rediff.com
