The series kicks off on August 15 in Galle, but Bumrah is not expected to be risked as he continues to face discomfort even after rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
The 32-year-old missed the third ODI at Lord’s due to an impact injury to his knee. While there were expectations for him to be match-fit before the Sri Lanka series, his recovery has taken longer than anticipated.
Sources indicate that the swelling in Bumrah’s knee is more severe than initially thought, leading the Sports Science team at the Centre of Excellence to adopt a cautious strategy.
Even if Bumrah returns to fitness before the first Test or the second Test starting on August 23, medical staff are reportedly hesitant to have him shoulder the demands of Test cricket, especially with a busy international schedule ahead.
India’s injury issues have deepened in the lead-up to the tour.
All-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, along with fast bowler Harshit Rana, are currently out due to hamstring injuries. Sundar is anticipated to miss at least the first Test, while Nitish and Harshit have been ruled out for the entire series.
With Bumrah’s likely absence, selectors are expected to explore new pace options. Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi and Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur have emerged as strong candidates to fill in for the experienced seamer in the squad.
The potential loss of Bumrah would be a considerable setback for India, as he continues to spearhead the bowling attack across formats. His workload has been managed carefully over the past year after multiple injury issues, with the team management prioritizing his long-term health over a hasty return.
India’s squad for the Tests against Sri Lanka is expected to be announced soon, with the fitness of several key players likely to be a central topic in the selection process.
