Mumbai: In a major blow ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, India’s principal bowling weapon Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out with a knee injury.
The 32-year-old Bumrah was named in a 16-member Team India squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, subject to clearing fitness test.
However, the pace spearhead, who was undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, has failed to recover in time.
Reports had initially suggested that he was fit to travel with the squad. However, lingering discomfort in his left knee prompted the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) medical team to take the decision of not risking aggravation of the injury.
Bumrah had sustained an impact knee injury while fielding during the second ODI against England in Cardiff last month, resulting in swelling. He was forced to miss the third and deciding ODI at Lord’s on July 19.
The Shubman Gill-led team had already lost the services of pacer Harshit Rana, allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy with injuries. Even Washington Sundar will miss the opening Test after suffering a hamstring injury, prompting selectors to call up off-spin all-rounder Saransh Jain.
With Bumrah unavailable, the selectors will have to find pace-bowling replacement.
The most likely candidate is Aaquib Nabi, who helped Jammu & Kashmir win their maiden Ranji Trophy and was unlucky not to be named in the squad.
Two others who could be considered are Vidarbha’s Yash Thakur and Haryana’s Anshul Kamboj, who made his Test debut against England at Manchester’s Old Trafford in July 2025.
The first Test against Sri Lanka will be played in Galle from August 15 to 19, and the second Test at Colombo’s SSC from August 23 to 27.
It’s an important series for Team India as they currently sit fifth in the World Test Championship standings. Gill & Co. desperately need wins which will hand them crucial points to bounce back into reckoning for top-two.