Jammu and Kashmir bowler Auqib Nabi replaces Jaspr...

By Rohan Gupta — 3 August 2026 — 3 min read

India has announced a change to its squad for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, with Auqib Nabi named as the replacement for fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah has been ruled out of the two-match series due to a knee injury he sustained. The series is a part of the World Test Championship and is scheduled to begin on August 15 in Galle.

Bumrah, 31, has been managing his knee injury since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He recently made his return to international cricket in an ODI series against England after an absence of nearly two years. However, he featured in only two matches before experiencing discomfort in his knee, which led to him being ruled out of the final game of that series.

Initially, Bumrah was part of the squad announced for the Test series against Sri Lanka. However, India confirmed on Monday that he would continue his recovery, with a focus on long-term implications for his fitness. The decision was made after he had not fully recovered from the left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England.

Nabi’s Maiden Call-Up and Injury Concerns

The Men’s Selection Committee has selected Auqib Nabi as Bumrah’s replacement. Nabi, a fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, has received his maiden call-up to the senior national team. His performance in domestic cricket has been notable, claiming 104 wickets over the last two Ranji Trophy seasons. This includes 60 wickets during the 2025-26 campaign, where he played a significant role in Jammu and Kashmir’s first Ranji Trophy triumph.

Nabi also gained international experience as part of the India A squad that recently toured Sri Lanka, where he secured six wickets in two first-class matches. His inclusion comes at a time when India is facing several injury concerns ahead of the series.

In addition to Bumrah, other players ruled out of the tour include Harshit Rana (hamstring), Nitish Kumar Reddy (quad), and Washington Sundar (hamstring). Sai Sudharsan is also in a race against time to recover from a toe injury and prove his fitness for the opening Test match.

Squad Details and Series Schedule

The India squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka includes:

Shubman Gill (c)
KL Rahul (vc)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Rishabh Pant
Sai Sudharsan (fitness pending)
Dhruv Jurel
Ravindra Jadeja
Kuldeep Yadav
Manav Suthar
Mohammed Siraj
Prasidh Krishna
Gurnoor Brar
Devdutt Padikkal
Saransh Jain
Auqib Nabi

The series holds considerable importance for both teams in the race to qualify for the ICC World Test Championship Final, which will be held at The Oval next year. India and Sri Lanka currently occupy fifth and sixth positions in the standings, respectively.

India is placed fifth with a points percentage of 48.15. Their recent performances include drawing an away series against England 2-2 and sweeping West Indies in a two-match home series. However, a 2-0 series defeat to the reigning World Test Championship holders, South Africa, caused them to drop down the table. Sri Lanka is close behind in sixth place with a points percentage of 41.67, having played two series in the current cycle, defeating Bangladesh 1-0 at home and suffering a 1-0 defeat away to West Indies.