India’s chances of properly covering Sundar’s spin slot for the Sri Lanka Tests rest heavily on uncapped left-armer Manav Suthar, whose stunning 7/62 debut haul against Afghanistan makes him the most obvious like-for-like replacement available to the selectors. Washington Sundar’s hamstring strain has ruled him out of the first Test in Galle outright, with the second Test dependent on recovery. Two more injuries, to Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, have forced selectors to rebuild parts of the squad before Tuesday’s announcement.
Sundar’s Hamstring Injury and Immediate Fallout
Sundar picked up a right hamstring strain against England at Cardiff, pulling up as he completed his first run to mid-off in the 33rd over on July 16. He was strapped by physio Kamlesh Jain and was out the very next ball, adding just two runs off Saqib Mahmood. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak later called it a bad injury, worsened by Sundar being dismissed the next delivery.
Harsh Dubey already deputised for him at Lord’s on July 19. Sundar is ruled out of the first Test in Galle on August 15, while his place in the second Test from August 23 depends on rehabilitation. A source close to the squad expects him fit only by the second match, leaving selectors to weigh a risk or a fourth spin option.
Rana and Reddy Add to the Crisis
Harshit Rana’s hamstring injury from the third T20I at Trent Bridge on July 7 ruled him out of the fourth and fifth T20Is, and he is unlikely to feature in either Sri Lanka Test. It is a cruel repeat for a bowler who missed the T20 World Cup squad with a knee problem needing surgery, then sat out all of IPL 2026.
Reddy’s tour has ended more abruptly. Ligament damage in his left knee, picked up during a gym session in Manchester, has ruled him out of the remaining England Tests and the entire Sri Lanka series, and he is already back at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. He had only just returned from an aggravated quadriceps issue that cost him the Ireland tour.
Sri Lanka Tests Washington Sundar Replacement
Manav Suthar is the name selectors keep returning to. His Test debut against Afghanistan in June produced 6/33 in the first innings and 7/62 in the match, the second-best debut bowling return in Indian Test history behind only Narendra Hirwani’s 8/61 against West Indies in 1988, and the first five-wicket debut by an Indian spinner this century since Amit Mishra. He also took eight wickets for India A against Australia A last year.
Kuldeep Yadav remains the senior option despite a tough IPL 2026 that saw Delhi Capitals move him to Lucknow Super Giants. He has played just once across India’s last thirteen matches, though 194 wickets in 121 ODIs still carry weight. Harsh Dubey offers a third option, carrying a maiden call-up built on a career-best 84 on India A’s shadow tour.
Pace Cover and Big Returns
The pace gap left by Rana and Reddy should be filled from within the set-up. Gurnoor Brar, who impressed on ODI debut and took eight wickets in the same India A series as Suthar, is tipped for a maiden cap. Prasidh Krishna, who took 3/37 against Afghanistan, and Mohammed Siraj remain part of the attack.
Two senior names are due back regardless of the fresh injuries. Ravindra Jadeja, rested for the Afghanistan Test after being called India’s number one Test spinner, is expected to return, and Jasprit Bumrah, also rested that game, reports to the Centre of Excellence on July 30 after a minor issue that is not serious.
Sudharsan’s Form Adds Selection Depth
While the bowling attack dominates the talk, Sai Sudharsan’s batting form has quietly strengthened the top order picture. He scored 332 runs at an average of 166 with two centuries for India A against Sri Lanka A, a series in which Dhruv Jurel also made a hundred and Auqib Nabi took a five-wicket haul on debut.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed the squad arrives by Tuesday, closing a chaotic week of fitness updates. That leaves Suthar as the most talked-about Sri Lanka Tests Washington Sundar replacement heading into the announcement, even as Reddy and Rana’s absences reshape the party.