Gill feels Bumrah's absence will provide opportunity for someone to step up

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Team India is set to take on Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series. The first match is scheduled to be played from August 15 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium near Galle Fort.

Ahead of the series, the visitors will miss out on the services of their lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Skipper Shubman Gill sees his absence as an opportunity for someone else to step up and deliver a big performance.

“Jasprit Bumrah is not here but it’s an opportunity for someone to step up. It’s all about understanding the pace of the game,” he said.

Jasprit Bumrah is not here but it’s an opportunity for someone to step up. It’s all about understanding the pace of the game: Gill on absence of Bumrah and inexperience in India bowling #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/UgJqPO269K

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2026

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team advised him to take additional rest for a left-knee problem.

Bumrah has been out of action since the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16. He missed the concluding ODI at Lord’s, with the BCCI citing a field-impact injury sustained during the Cardiff fixture.

Following the tour of England, Bumrah reportedly received a knee injection as part of a long-term rehabilitation strategy formulated by medical staff.

The BCCI has named Auqib Nabi as his replacement for the series against Sri Lanka.

Further, the skipper also said that Sai Sudharsan did not recover from his injury, but expressed confidence in the squad. Considering that Sudharsan has been ruled out of the series, Mumbai’s explosive batsman Sarfaraz Khan has received the call-up to the Indian squad.

“There is a constant communication with them. Unfortunately Sai Sudharsan did not improve as much as we liked as we can’t take risks in Tests. But we are confident of our 15,” said Gill.

There is a constant communication with them. Unfortunately Sai Sudharsan did not improve as much as we liked as we can’t take risks in Tests. But we are confident of our 15: Shubman Gill on injury to players #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/M7Sk0VSzuF

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2026

IND vs SL 1st Test: Full squads

India: 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.

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Nishan Madushka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Dilshan Madushanka, Keshara Nuwantha.

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