India have received a major boost ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka after premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was declared fit by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
Bumrah had sustained an impact injury during the ODI series against England, forcing him to miss the third ODI at Lord’s. Although he was included in India’s squad for the Sri Lanka tour, his participation depended on medical clearance. After successfully completing the required fitness tests, the pacer is now expected to be available for both Tests.
The series marks India’s return to the 2027–29 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The first Test will be played in Galle from August 15, followed by the second in Colombo from August 23.
India, currently fifth in the WTC standings, will be aiming for a strong start after an inconsistent campaign. A successful tour of Sri Lanka is considered crucial before the team’s challenging away assignment in New Zealand later this year.
However, India’s injury concerns continue. Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy have been ruled out with hamstring and quadriceps injuries respectively. Washington Sundar will miss the opening Test due to a hamstring strain, while Akash Deep is still recovering from a back injury.
Bumrah’s return significantly strengthens India’s pace attack and provides a timely boost as the team looks to build momentum in the new WTC cycle and improve its chances of reaching the final.
