India batsman Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, with reports differing on the nature of his injury. The Times of India says he is sidelined with a foot niggle, while Yahoo Sports reports a toe injury. Both outlets confirm his absence from the two-match series, which begins on August 15.
The race to replace him appears to have multiple contenders. According to the Times of India, Shaik Rasheed and Sarfaraz Khan are the frontrunners, with Rasheed holding an edge after a recent India A stint and strong feedback from the Centre of Excellence. Yahoo Sports, however, highlights Devdutt Padikkal, who scored an unbeaten century in a warm-up match, making him a strong candidate for the number three batting position.
Captain Shubman Gill is set to play despite a minor finger injury, according to Yahoo Sports. The series against Sri Lanka is scheduled to kick off on August 15, with India needing to finalize their squad before then.