Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aquib Nabi during a Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai.
| Photo Credit: Imran Nissar
India’s hopes of keeping its faint World Test Championship final aspirations alive have suffered a setback, with Jasprit Bumrah being ruled out of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka because of an incomplete recovery from a left knee injury.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday (August 3, 2026) that the premier fast bowler has failed to obtain the required fitness clearance after sustaining the injury during the ODI series against England. Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has been drafted into the squad as Bumrah’s replacement, earning his maiden senior India call-up.
When the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced the squad last week, both Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan had been included subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. While Bumrah has fallen short of the benchmark, Sudharsan is understood to have made significant progress in his rehabilitation and is expected to be cleared before the team departs for Sri Lanka on August 4.
Bumrah’s absence is a significant blow to Shubman Gill’s side ahead of a series India cannot afford to lose if it is to preserve its remote chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. The 32-year-old has been India’s spearhead across formats, and his experience will be particularly missed in conditions where India is expected to rely on disciplined fast bowling alongside their spin attack.
For Nabi, meanwhile, the call-up marks the culmination of a remarkable rise in domestic cricket. Having collected 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 in the 2025-26 campaign, playing a central role in Jammu and Kashmir’s maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.
The right-arm seamer also impressed on the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka, claiming six wickets in two first-class matches, performances that strengthened his credentials before the selectors turned to him following Bumrah’s withdrawal.
The squad: Shubman Gill (captain), K.L. Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan (subject to fitness clearance), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi.
Published – August 03, 2026 10:44 am IST
