Top News

India and Sri Lanka are scheduled to play in a two-Test series this month. The first match of this series is scheduled to be played in Galle on August 15th. Ahead of this, Team India has undergone a major change. Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the Sri Lanka tour. Bumrah was included in the Test squad on fitness grounds, but he has not yet fully recovered from the left knee injury he suffered during the ODI series against England. Bumrah’s knee is still swollen. Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aaqib Nabi has been included in the Indian team in his place.

The Sports Science Team at the Bengaluru-based Centre of Excellence (CoE) has refrained from rushing the experienced fast bowler’s return to international cricket, keeping in mind the Indian team’s upcoming busy schedule. Consequently, his replacement has been announced. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a statement on Monday (August 3rd), saying, “The Men’s Selection Committee has included Aaqib Nabi in the squad in place of Bumrah.” This fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir has earned a place in the senior national team for the first time.

First Player from the Kashmir Valley

Aaqib Nabi has become the first player from the Kashmir Valley to be selected in the Indian Test team. Before Nabi, 29, a resident of Baramulla, Kashmir, Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik have made their way to Team India, but they made it to the limited-overs team.

Aaqib Nabi has taken a total of 104 wickets in the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 wickets in the 2025-26 season. He played a key role in Jammu and Kashmir’s first Ranji Trophy win. Aaqib is also capable of making useful contributions with the bat. He was part of the India A team that recently toured Sri Lanka, where he took six wickets in two first-class matches.

Sai Sudarshan is also injured

Left-handed batsman Sai Sudarshan has also been selected for the Sri Lanka tour based on fitness. He is still recovering from a foot injury. The two-match Test series in Sri Lanka begins in Galle on August 15.

Indian squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudarshan, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnur Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Aaqib Nabi.