Led by captain Shubman Gill, the Indian Test team departed from Mumbai Airport on August 4, 2026, heading to Sri Lanka for a two-match series in the ICC World Test Championship. The squad faces a major setback as lead fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out with a knee injury.
Shubman Gill Leads India to Sri Lanka
The red-ball campaign officially commences for a transitioning Indian side as Shubman Gill leads the squad to Sri Lanka following the departure of Rohit Sharma from the format. A viral video from Mumbai Airport showed players and support staff arriving ahead of their journey to the island nation, offering fans their first glimpse of the touring side before the multi-format assignment gets underway. Video footage captured captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and other team members arriving at the airport to prepare for the crucial World Test Championship assignment. This series marks another step in India’s transition phase as Gill captains the side in difficult foreign conditions against a Sri Lankan team eager to exploit home advantage.
Jasprit Bumrah Injury Forces Late Squad Changes Before Galle Test
Jasprit Bumrah Knee Injury Forces Squad Changes
Just as the team prepared to board their flight, India absorbed a significant blow when fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was forced out of the series due to a knee injury. Following Jasprit Bumrah becoming unavailable due to injury, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a revised squad for the two-match Test series on Monday, August 3, 2026. The absence of Bumrah places immediate pressure on the remaining bowling attack and creates an early tactical hurdle for the team management in foreign conditions, presenting head coach Gautam Gambhir with one of his toughest assignments.
Aqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar and Saransh Jain Earn Maiden Call-ups
To cover the vacancy left by Bumrah, selectors named Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aqib Nabi alongside uncapped prospects Gurnoor Brar and Saransh Jain in a revised squad, with all three new players carrying the possibility of making their Test debuts during the series. The 29-year-old Nabi earned his maiden Test call-up following standout performances in domestic cricket, making his inclusion a major talking point ahead of the series.
ICC World Test Championship Points and Match Schedule in Sri Lanka
ICC World Test Championship Fixtures and Schedule
The incoming tour forms an essential block within the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Before the official matches begin, the visitors will contest a three-day warm-up fixture against a Sri Lanka XI in Colombo from August 7 to August 9.
The Indian team will play two Test matches against Sri Lanka starting on August 15. The opening encounter will be hosted at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, while the second and final Test is organized to take place from August 23 to August 27 at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
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