MUMBAI: India’s top-order batter Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday. Sudharsan's absence is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Indian team, which is already grappling with injuries to key players such as Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar. Sarfaraz Khan has been named as Sudharsan's replacement for the two-Test series, which holds significant implications for both teams' prospects in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.

According to International Cricket Council, Sudharsan is recovering from a right toe stress reaction and has made notable progress. His absence, however, creates a void in the Indian top-order. The 24-year-old had delivered a solid performance in his last Test appearance, scoring 81 runs in a victory against Afghanistan. Despite Sudharsan's absence, Devdutt Padikkal's impressive display in the warm-up match at the crucial No. 3 spot offers some reassurance for the Indian team.

The upcoming series is critical for both India and Sri Lanka in the WTC rankings, with India currently holding a point percentage of 48.15 and Sri Lanka at 41.67. India’s updated squad, led by captain Shubman Gill, includes players like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja. Gill, who skipped batting in the first innings of the tour game as a precaution, returned to score 44 runs in the second innings. India spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule assured that Gill is in optimal form and poised to lead the team in the first Test starting August 15 in Galle, followed by the second Test in Colombo from August 23-27.