India's two-match Test series against Sri Lanka gets underway on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium, and there's been a late twist to the squad heading in. Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out after a right toe stress reaction, with Sarfaraz Khan drafted in as his replacement. With World Test Championship points on the line and a genuine selection dilemma in the pace department, head coach Gautam Gambhir has plenty to sort out before the toss.
Squad update: Sudharsan out, Sarfaraz Khan in
Sudharsan has been recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and, while the medical team reports he's progressing well, he won't be fit in time for the series. The Men's Selection Committee has called up Sarfaraz Khan as cover, and he'll join the squad in Colombo before the team moves on to Galle for the series opener.
India's full squad for the Sri Lanka Test series
Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan
Predicted XI for the 1st Test at Galle
The good news for India is that Shubman Gill is back to full fitness after the finger injury that kept him out of the first two days of the warm-up match — he batted through the final day of that fixture without any issues, easing fears over his availability. With Galle expected to offer significant turn, India look set to lean heavily on spin, with as many as three specialist spinners in the frame alongside the seam options.
The one genuine toss-up is who partners Mohammed Siraj with the new ball. Prasidh Krishna offers experience at a time when Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar are both unavailable, but Gurnoor Brar's extra pace and bounce troubled Sri Lanka's batters throughout the warm-up match, building a strong case for a debut on current form over reputation.
Likely India XI
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- Rishabh Pant / Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Saransh Jain / Sarfaraz Khan
- Manav Suthar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna / Gurnoor Brar
- Kuldeep Yadav
The wicketkeeping slot is its own open question between Pant and Jurel, and there's a similar toss-up in the lower middle order between Saransh Jain's off-spin and Sarfaraz Khan's extra batting depth. Expect team management to make late calls on both once they've had a final look at the pitch.
Galle International Stadium: venue details
- Location: Galle, Sri Lanka, bordered by the Indian Ocean on two sides, next to the historic Galle Fort
- Ends: City End and Fort End
- Capacity: Approximately 30,000–35,000
- First Test hosted: June 1998
- Notable history: Badly damaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, reopened after renovation in December 2007; the venue where Muttiah Muralitharan took his 800th and final Test wicket in 2010
Pitch report and conditions
Galle is one of the most reliably spin-friendly surfaces on the international circuit, and captains typically load up on slow bowlers accordingly — a big part of why India are expected to field as many as three specialist spinners. That said, the surface tends to offer runs early before wearing and turning more sharply as a match progresses, so first-innings runs matter a great deal here. Recent Tests at the venue (2023–2024) have produced first-innings totals averaging well over 400, underlining how much tougher batting gets in the second innings and beyond.
Key Galle Test stats
- Tests played at the venue: 46+
- Matches won batting first: 25
- Matches won batting second: 15
- Matches drawn: 6
- Highest team total: 704/3 declared — Sri Lanka vs Ireland, 2023
- Lowest team total: 73 — South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2018
- Best bowling figures (match): 13/171 — Muttiah Muralitharan vs South Africa, 2000
- Average first-innings score: Around 369
The toss is historically a significant advantage at Galle — teams batting first have won more often than not, and chasing sides have needed to navigate a pitch that only gets harder to bat on as the match wears on.
Frequently asked questions
Why has Sai Sudharsan been ruled out of the Sri Lanka series?
He's recovering from a right toe stress reaction and, despite good progress, won't be fit in time for the series.
Who has replaced Sai Sudharsan in the squad?
Sarfaraz Khan has been named as his replacement and will join the squad in Colombo.
When does the 1st Test between India and Sri Lanka start?
August 15, 2026, at the Galle International Stadium.
Is Shubman Gill fit to play the 1st Test?
Yes, he's recovered from the finger injury that affected the start of the warm-up match and batted without issue on the final day.
Who is likely to partner Mohammed Siraj with the new ball?
It's a close call between Prasidh Krishna (experience) and Gurnoor Brar (in-form after a strong warm-up showing), with a final decision expected close to the toss.
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