Sarfaraz Khan’s long wait for another opportunity in India’s Test squad has finally come to an end. The Mumbai batter has been recalled as Sai Sudharsan’s injury replacement for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, earning another chance to revive his international career after nearly two years out of the team.
Sarfaraz was last picked for India during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy but has been out of the selectors’ plans since then. The 28-year-old last played for India in November 2024 against New Zealand, where his century in the opening Test in Bengaluru was one of the few bright spots for India in an otherwise disappointing series as the hosts suffered a historic 3-0 whitewash at home.
“He will link up with the Indian squad in Colombo before the team travels to Galle for the first Test match, starting August 15, 2026,” the BCCI stated in an official media release on Sunday.
Sarfaraz has an outstanding first-class average of 64.73 from 62 matches, but his opportunities for India have remained limited. Despite consistently producing strong numbers in the Ranji Trophy over the years, he has managed just six Test appearances for the national team.
Sarfaraz made his Test debut against England in February 2024 and scored a half-century in both innings of his first match. He has since featured in six Tests for India, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10, with three fifties.
His return also comes after a significant fitness transformation this year. Sarfaraz has shed considerable weight and worked hard to get into better shape after facing criticism over his fitness in the past. His transformation has now helped him return to the Test setup at a crucial stage.
Sarfaraz’s recall comes after Sudharsan was ruled out of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to a right toe stress reaction.
Sudharsan, who has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, has made significant progress in his recovery. However, the BCCI Medical Team continues to monitor his condition, and he will miss the Sri Lanka series.
The left-handed batter sustained the injury during India A’s tour of Sri Lanka last month. He had established himself as India’s No. 3 in the recent Test series and was in excellent form, scoring two centuries in as many unofficial Tests.
However, Sudharsan was struck on the toe during the second match against Sri Lanka A and has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru since then. Despite making significant progress, he has not recovered sufficiently to return to Test cricket for the upcoming series.
“The left-handed batter, who has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, has made significant progress in his recovery from the right toe stress reaction and is recovering well. The BCCI Medical Team is closely monitoring his progress,” the Indian board’s official media update stated.
The Men’s Selection Committee has opted for Sarfaraz as Sudharsan’s replacement, handing the Mumbai batter another opportunity to return to India’s Test setup.
Sarfaraz will link up with the Indian squad in Colombo before the team travels to Galle for the first Test, which begins on August 15.
India will enter the Sri Lanka series without several key players as injuries continue to disrupt their plans. Jasprit Bumrah has already been ruled out, while Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are also unavailable due to hamstring and quadriceps injuries, respectively.
Washington Sundar will miss the first Test after picking up a hamstring problem, adding to India’s concerns. Akash Deep is another absentee as he continues his recovery from stress reactions in his back.
The growing list of injuries has left India with several selection headaches ahead of the two-match series. The Sri Lanka Tests will also count towards the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
INDIA’s UPDATED SQUAD FOR SL TESTS
Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.
– Ends
