The availability of 24-year-old left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan for India's upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka is increasingly uncertain. Sudharsan is currently managing a toe injury, which prevented him from joining the Indian squad as they traveled to Sri Lanka earlier this week. He also remained sidelined for the ongoing warm-up match in Colombo.
Although there were initial expectations that he would join the team over the weekend, his current fitness status makes his travel to Sri Lanka unlikely. A definitive decision regarding his participation is expected to be finalized following discussions with the team management after the second day of the warm-up fixture.
Sudharsan's potential absence adds to a mounting list of injury challenges for the Indian side. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is already unavailable for the series, and Washington Sundar is currently managing an injury, though he has not been officially ruled out of the second Test. Furthermore, captain Shubman Gill missed the warm-up game after sustaining an impact injury while batting in the nets on the day before the match.
Should Sudharsan be ruled out, Devdutt Padikkal is the frontrunner to take over the No. 3 batting position. Padikkal bolstered his case for inclusion with an impressive unbeaten score of 142 in the ongoing warm-up match.
