Jasprit Bumrah Ruled Out of India vs Sri Lanka Tests; Auqib Nabi Gets Maiden Call-Up
India have suffered a major setback ahead of the Sri Lanka Test series as Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out with a knee injury. Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has been named as his replacement after an impressive domestic season.
August 03, 2026: India have suffered a major setback ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, with premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah officially ruled out due to a left knee injury. Bumrah was included in India's original squad for the series but has not fully recovered, forcing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to withdraw him from the tour. The selectors have named Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi as Bumrah's replacement, handing the youngster his first-ever call-up to the Indian Test team.
The BCCI confirmed Bumrah's absence in an official statement, saying, "Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka as he has not yet fully recovered from the left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England. The Men's Selection Committee has named Auqib Nabi as Bumrah's replacement."
Bumrah's injury dates back to the ODI series against England, where he missed the Lord's ODI after experiencing swelling in his left knee. Although he was initially expected to recover in time for the Sri Lanka tour and was included in the Test squad, further medical assessment at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence found that he was still experiencing discomfort. After consulting the medical staff, it was decided that the fast bowler should continue his rehabilitation instead of risking a return before he is fully fit.
The injury is another setback for Bumrah, who has been carefully managing his workload since the T20 World Cup 2026 earlier this year. As one of India's most important fast bowlers, the team management is expected to take a cautious approach to avoid any long-term complications and ensure he returns only after making a complete recovery.
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Auqib Nabi replaces Jasprit Bumrah in India's Test squad.
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β BCCI (@BCCI) August 3, 2026
Auqib Nabi Replaces Bumrah In India's Test Squad
The selectors have turned to Auqib Nabi, who has been one of the most consistent fast bowlers in Indian domestic cricket over the past two seasons. The right-arm pacer from Jammu & Kashmir has impressed with his pace, accuracy and ability to take wickets in all conditions, earning him a place in the national squad for the first time.
Nabi has enjoyed an outstanding run in the Ranji Trophy, claiming 104 wickets across the last two seasons. During the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, he picked up 60 wickets, playing a key role in helping Jammu & Kashmir win their maiden Ranji Trophy title. His performances established him as one of the country's most promising young fast bowlers.
The 24-year-old also impressed during the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka, where he claimed six wickets in two first-class matches. He was also named as a standby player for the Afghanistan Test earlier this year, showing that he had already entered the selectors' plans. His consistent performances have now earned him a well-deserved opportunity at the highest level.
With Bumrah unavailable, Nabi will now have the chance to make his Test debut and strengthen India's pace attack alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Cricket fans will be eager to see how the young pacer performs against Sri Lanka if he gets an opportunity during the series.
India Squad For Sri Lanka Test Series 2026
Shubman Gill will captain the Indian side during the two-match Test series, while KL Rahul has been named vice-captain. The squad also includes experienced players such as Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj and Rishabh Pant, along with several young talents looking to make an impact. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be led by Dhananjaya de Silva as both teams aim to collect valuable ICC World Test Championship points.
India Squad:
Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi.
