**Jasprit Bumrah Ruled Out of Sri Lanka Test Series Due to Injury**
India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has been officially ruled out of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to a persistent left knee injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced this decision on August 3, 2026, as Bumrah continues his recovery process.
Bumrah, who has been a pivotal figure in India's bowling lineup, sustained the injury while fielding during a one-day international match against England in Cardiff last month. Initially, he was included in the squad for the Sri Lanka series, pending a final fitness assessment. However, following ongoing discomfort in his knee, the decision was made for him to withdraw from the squad.
To fill the void left by Bumrah, the BCCI has named uncapped fast bowler Auqib Nabi as his replacement. Nabi, 29, hails from Jammu and Kashmir and has made a name for himself in domestic cricket, taking a remarkable 104 wickets over the last two seasons of the Ranji Trophy. His impressive performance included 60 wickets in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, which played a significant role in leading his team to their first title. Additionally, he showcased his talent during India A's tour of Sri Lanka in June and July, where he claimed six wickets in two first-class matches.
Nabi's selection is particularly noteworthy as he becomes the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to receive a call-up to the senior Test side, marking a significant milestone for cricket in the region.
The BCCI also noted that the participation of batter Sai Sudharsan remains contingent upon fitness clearance. The two-Test series against Sri Lanka is set to commence in Galle on August 15, with the second Test scheduled to take place in Colombo starting August 23.
The Indian squad for the Sri Lanka tour includes:
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- KL Rahul (vice captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
- Sai Sudharsan
- Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Manav Suthar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Gurnoor Brar
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Saransh Jain
- Auqib Nabi
As the series approaches, the Indian team will be looking to adapt to Bumrah's absence and leverage the skills of their new addition, Nabi, in what promises to be a competitive series against Sri Lanka.