.jpeg "We are in touch with them, Shubman Gill on Bumrah and Sudharsan's absence ahead of Galle Test")
India captain Shubman Gill declared himself fit ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning August 15, 2026, in Galle. Gill had sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during practice and missed the opening day of the warm-up fixture as a precautionary measure. The captain is now available for selection as the two-Test World Test Championship series gets underway.
The Indian team faces significant injury concerns with two key players ruled out. Jasprit Bumrah has not fully recovered from a left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England, while Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out due to a stress reaction in his right toe. Auqib Nabi has been called up as Bumrah's replacement, and Sarfaraz Khan has been named as Sudharsan's replacement.
"Yes, we are in touch with them. There is constant monitoring on players and where they are (in terms of fitness)," Gill was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Constant monitoring of injured players
Gill explained that the team maintains regular contact with injured players and tracks their recovery progress closely. The monitoring process involves ongoing assessments to determine whether players can return to competitive cricket. Sudharsan featured in seven Tests, scoring 383 runs at an average of 39 with three half-centuries before his injury.
"Sai’s case was quite unfortunate. It looked like he would be able to be a part of the series. But we did constant scans and he wasn't improving as much as we would have liked or expected him to be," Gill added.
Risk management in Test cricket
The captain emphasised that the decision to exclude Sudharsan was made with the player's long-term fitness in mind. Test cricket's five-day format allows for different risk-assessment considerations compared to shorter formats. Gill outlined the rationale behind the cautious approach to player management.
"The Test match is for 5 days. If it's one-day or T20, then it's a different story. But in the Test match, you don't want to take a risk. I feel that in the Test match, you have more opportunities with other players to come back," Gill said.
Squad depth and team morale
Despite the absence of two experienced players, Gill expressed confidence in the squad's depth and capability. The team's morale remained unaffected by the unavailability of Bumrah and Sudharsan from the first eleven. The captain backed the replacements and other squad members to perform effectively in the Test series.
"But it didn't affect the morale of the team that much that they didn't get the first 11. I feel that whoever is in our 15 or whoever we give a chance in our playing 11 in any condition, they can play well and win the game," Gill concluded.