Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of India’s upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka after failing to recover from a foot injury. His absence has now left the Indian team with an important decision to make before the series begins.
Sudharsan had been India’s first choice at No. 3 since making his Test debut. However, he was still trying to settle into the position and had not completely secured his place. His injury could therefore give India a chance to look at another option rather than simply finding a direct replacement.
Sudharsan did not travel to Sri Lanka with the rest of the Indian players on August 4 but was expected to join the squad in Colombo on Saturday (August 8). However, the daily Jagran understands that he will miss the must-win series for India.
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Devdutt Padikkal has done his chances no harm. The left-handed batter scored a composed century in the ongoing warm-up game, showing good control and patience at the crease.
That innings could put Padikkal in the running for the No. 3 spot against Sri Lanka. He has shown that he can handle pressure, spend time at the crease and build an innings. Those qualities could be useful for a batter coming in early and helping India establish a strong position.
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Still, the selection decision may not be an easy one. India have several batting options, and the final choice could depend on how the team wants to balance its playing XI.
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Notably, Sudharsan is the second player to be ruled out of the Sri Lanka series. Earlier, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was also ruled out of the series due to a persistent left knee injury and ongoing discomfort. Bumrah suffered an injury in England while featuring in the second ODI that forced him to miss the series decider. The BCCI added Aquib Nabi in the squad as his replacement for the series.
Sudharsan did not travel to Sri Lanka with the rest of the Indian players on August 4 but was expected to join the squad in Colombo on Saturday (August 8). However, it has now been reported that he will miss the must-win series for India.