Ravindra Jadeja has been recalled to India’s Test squad after recovering from a tennis elbow injury, as the BCCI announced a 15-man group for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka. The selection also includes a maiden India call-up for spin-bowling all-rounder Saransh Jain, who comes in as a replacement for Washington Sundar, unavailable due to a hamstring injury.
The series is set to begin after a four-day practice match in Colombo starting on 7 August, with the two Tests scheduled in Galle (15–19 August) and Colombo (23–27 August). The squad announcement matters with conditions expected to aid spin, and Jadeja’s return adds experience and balance to India’s options for the subcontinental tour.
Key squad updates: Jadeja’s return and Jain’s first call-up
Jadeja’s selection marks his return to the Test setup following a tennis elbow injury sustained during the 2026 Indian Premier League in May. With the BCCI confirming he has fully recovered, the veteran all-rounder is back to bolster India’s spin resources for the Sri Lanka series.
Jain, meanwhile, has been added to the squad as a replacement for Washington Sundar, who was unavailable for selection for the first Test due to a hamstring injury picked up during the ODI series in England. The call-up is Jain’s first at senior international level, and it follows his recent performances for India A against Sri Lanka A, as noted in the selection update.
Jain’s first-class record underlines why he has been brought into the group. The right-arm off-spinner has taken 181 wickets in 54 First-Class matches, at an average of 27.30 and an economy rate of nearly 3.01 runs per over, with best innings figures of 6/75. With the bat, the left-handed lower-middle-order option has scored 2,223 runs in 85 innings at an average of 31.75, including 14 half-centuries and two centuries, with a top score of 103.
The BCCI, in its press release, confirmed the immediate schedule leading into the Tests:
“The Men’s Selection Committee has selected India’s squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Ahead of the series, the team will play a four-day practice match in Colombo, starting on 7 August.”
The board also stated that the availability of Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah will be subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI COE, adding a note of uncertainty around two names in the selected group.
India squad named for Sri Lanka Tests
India’s squad: Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain
The leadership group is headed by Shubman Gill as captain, with KL Rahul named vice-captain. The squad includes two wicketkeeping options in Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel, while the spin group features Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar alongside newcomer Jain. The pace options listed include Jasprit Bumrah (subject to fitness clearance), Mohd. Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, with Gurnoor Brar also included.
Tour schedule: practice match and two Tests
India’s tour of Sri Lanka begins with a four-day practice match in Colombo starting on 7 August, offering the squad preparation time ahead of the Test series. The first Test is scheduled in Galle from 15–19 August, followed by the second Test in Colombo from 23–27 August.
With the BCCI confirming the squad and the pre-series fixture, attention now turns to fitness clearances for Sudharsan and Bumrah, and how the final XI combinations take shape once the team assembles for the Colombo warm-up.
