Sai Sudharsan Out of India vs Sri Lanka Tests Due to Toe Injury
India’s top-order batter Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to a toe injury, as reported by the Times of India. Sudharsan did not travel with the Indian team to Sri Lanka and is currently undergoing treatment at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
While his injury is nearly healed, he hasn’t fully recovered enough to play in the series. A BCCI source stated that his recovery might take longer than expected. This is a significant blow for India, as Sudharsan had been seen as the preferred option at No. 3 in the team lineup.
The 24-year-old has played seven Tests and scored 383 runs with an average of 39, including three half-centuries. He recently impressed in India A’s Test series against Sri Lanka A, scoring two centuries and accumulating 332 runs in four innings. His absence could give Devdutt Padikkal the chance to strengthen his claim for the No. 3 position, especially after scoring a century in India’s warm-up match in Colombo.
This injury setback adds to India’s growing list of concerns, including Jasprit Bumrah’s absence due to a knee injury and other players like Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy being ruled out. Promising pacer Auqub Nabi from Jammu & Kashmir has been named as Bumrah’s replacement.
India’s skipper Shubman Gill is also missing the warm-up match due to a finger injury, with KL Rahul taking charge in his absence.
The first Test will be held at Galle on August 15, followed by the second Test in Colombo starting August 23.