Ravindra Jadeja declared fit as India await key squad decisions before Sri Lanka Tests

MUMBAI: Senior India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has recovered from injury and is set to be available for selection when India's selectors meet on Monday to finalise the squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Jadeja had been sidelined since May after sustaining a tennis elbow injury during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). The experienced all-rounder last represented India in the ODI series against New Zealand in January.

However, uncertainty remains over the fitness of all-rounder Washington Sundar and fast bowler Harshit Rana ahead of the series.

Rana is yet to fully recover from the hamstring injury he suffered during the T20I series in England.

The pacer had only recently returned from a lengthy lay-off after missing both the 2026 T20 World Cup and the IPL due to a knee injury. His most recent Test appearance came against Australia in Adelaide in December 2024.

Washington also remains under assessment after missing the third ODI against England with a hamstring injury. He was replaced in the squad by Harsh Dubey, while selectors are reportedly awaiting his final fitness report before announcing the squad.

Should Washington not recover in time for the opening Test, India could include him later as the 16th member of the squad if he becomes available for the second match.

The selectors are also expected to receive an update on premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested from the Lord's ODI against England as a precaution after suffering an impact injury to his left knee during the second ODI in Cardiff.

Although Bumrah is expected to recover in time for the Sri Lanka tour, the team management is likely to manage his workload carefully following a demanding schedule that included the T20 World Cup and the IPL.

He was also rested for the one-off Test and ODI series against Afghanistan in June, as well as the T20I series against Ireland and England.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is unlikely to be fit for the Sri Lanka series after being ruled out of the Ireland and England tours with a quadriceps injury.

India's batting line-up is expected to remain largely unchanged, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal set to open the innings, while captain Shubman Gill is likely to continue at number four.

Sai Sudharsan is expected to retain his place after impressive performances for India A, while Devdutt Padikkal remains in contention. Rishabh Pant is set to continue as the first-choice wicketkeeper, with Dhruv Jurel serving as his understudy.

If fit, Bumrah will lead the pace attack alongside Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

Left-arm seamer Gurnoor Brar has also strengthened his selection claims after claiming a 10-wicket match haul for India A against Sri Lanka A. He previously made his senior India debut during the ODI series against Afghanistan.

Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are expected to spearhead the spin department, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar likely to retain his place after taking seven wickets on his Test debut against Afghanistan in June.

Harsh Dubey, who enjoyed an outstanding domestic season, could also earn a place in the squad should either Jadeja or Washington fail to prove their fitness.

The first Test will be played in Galle from August 15, while the second Test is scheduled to begin on August 23 at the SSC in Colombo.

The Sri Lanka series marks India's first assignment in the new World Test Championship cycle following their 2-0 home defeat to South Africa in November.

Before that, India drew their five-Test series in England 2-2 and secured a 2-0 home series victory over the West Indies. India currently sit fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings, with Sri Lanka occupying sixth place.