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IND vs SL: Will Sarfaraz Khan be left waiting again? A 21-year-old batsman is competing for Sudarshan’s place.

Samira Vishwas | August 9, 2026 2:24 AM CST

The Test series in Sri Lanka hasn’t even begun yet, but the Indian team has already suffered two major setbacks. Following veteran fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, young batsman Sai Sudarshan has also been dropped from the Indian team selected for this Test series. Sudarshan has not yet regained fitness and is therefore out of the Test series. Now, the question is who will replace Sudarshan. Sarfaraz Khan’s name is once again being considered, but 21-year-old Sheikh Rashid is also in the running.

Competition between Sarfaraz and Rashid

Sai Sudarshan’s fitness was already a concern in the Indian team selected for this series. Despite this, he was included and it was made clear that he would only be part of the series if he was fit. This was the reason why he did not travel to Sri Lanka with Team India and missed the practice matches. However, on August 8, it became clear that he would not be able to play in the series.

With Sudarshan’s exclusion, Devdutt Padikkal is the strongest contender to replace him at number 3 in the playing XI. However, Sudarshan’s spot in the squad also needs to be filled, and Mumbai batsman Sarfaraz Khan and young Andhra Pradesh batsman Sheikh Rashid are in the running. According to a report in the Times of India, Sheikh Rashid and Sarfaraz Khan are competing for a spot in the squad. Sarfaraz is currently at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, while Rashid has been asked to arrive by August 9th.

Who has the upper hand?

Sarfaraz has already made his debut for Team India and has scored 371 runs in six Test matches. However, he has been overlooked in every Test series for the past one and a half years. Therefore, it’s natural to question whether the team management will consider including him in the squad this time around. On the other hand, there’s Sheikh Rashid, who has scored 1959 runs in 29 first-class matches at an average of around 47. Last month, during his tour of Sri Lanka with India A, he scored 63, 20, and 45 in three innings. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if he receives a call-up from Team India for the first time.