The men’s senior selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, announced the 15-member squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15 in Galle. Ravindra Jadeja, who was rested for the Afghanistan Test, returns to the squad, while off-spinner Saransh Jain has earned his maiden call-up as Washington Sundar remains unavailable for the first Test.Injury concerns persist, with both Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah selected pending fitness clearance from the BCCI CoE. Otherwise, the squad is largely on expected lines, with the core batting group retained. The seam attack features the usual names: Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Bumrah and Gurnoor Brar, who retained his spot after a strong performance against Sri Lanka A.For the spin department, Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to shoulder the responsibility alongside Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain. Suthar impressed against Afghanistan, while Jain was preferred as the specialist off-spinner in Sundar’s absence.The 33-year-old has played 54 First-Class matches and was on the selectors’ radar. They handed him an India A opportunity during the recent tour of Sri Lanka. He chipped in with six wickets and an unbeaten 70 in the final game.TimesofIndia.com has learnt that the selectors are unwilling to take any fitness-related risks for the series, and both Sudharsan and Bumrah will feature only if they clear all fitness benchmarks at the CoE. It is understood that Bumrah should be fit for the opening Test in Galle, but even with a one percent doubt, the think tank will not rush a half-fit player back into the playing XI.India are expected to reach Sri Lanka early in the first week of August before preparing for a four-day warm-up fixture in Colombo, starting August 7.India’s squad for the Tests against Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain.Note:
- Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah’s availability will be subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI CoE.
- Washington Sundar was unavailable for selection for the first Test.
