The senior men’s selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, has announced the 15-member squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting on August 15 in Galle. Ravindra Jadeja, who was rested for the Afghanistan Test, returns to the squad, while spinner Saransh Jain earned his first call-up as Washington Sundar remains unavailable for the first Test.Injury problems persist, with Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah selected pending fitness clearance from the BCCI CoE. Otherwise, the team is largely on expected lines, with the core batting group retained. The seam attack features the usual names: Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Bumrah and Gurnoor Brar, who retained his place after a strong performance against Sri Lanka A.For the spin department, Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to shoulder their responsibility alongside Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain. Suthar impressed against Afghanistan, while Jain was preferred as a specialist off-spinner in Sundar’s absence.The 33-year-old played 54 First Class matches and was on the selectors’ radar. They gave him an India A opportunity during the recent tour of Sri Lanka. Chipped in with six wickets and an unbeaten 70 in the final game.TimesofIndia.com has learned that the selectors are not willing to take any fitness risks for the series, and Sudharsan and Bumrah will feature only if they clear all the fitness parameters in the CoE. It is understood that Bumrah should be fit for the opening Test in Galle, but even with a percent of doubt, the think tank will not rush a half-fit player into the playing XI.India are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka early in the first week of August before preparing for a four-day warm-up match in Colombo, starting on August 7.
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India Squad for Tests against Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain.Note:
- The availability of Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah will be subject to fitness clearance by the BCCI CoE.
- Washington Sundar was not available for selection for the first Test.