Sarfaraz Khan’s wait for another opportunity in India’s Test squad is finally over. The Mumbai batter has been recalled as Sai Sudharsan’s replacement for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, giving him another chance to revive his international career after nearly two years away from the national setup. Sarfaraz was last part of India’s squad during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His most recent Test appearance came against New Zealand in November 2024, when he scored a memorable century in Bengaluru.
Despite his impressive performance, India endured a disappointing series and suffered a historic 3-0 whitewash at home. The BCCI confirmed on Sunday that Sarfaraz will join the Indian squad in Colombo before the team travels to Galle for the opening Test, scheduled to begin on August 15, 2026.
The 28-year-old has an exceptional first-class record, averaging 64.73 from 62 matches. However, his opportunities at the international level have been limited. Since making his Test debut against England in February 2024, Sarfaraz has featured in only six matches, scoring 371 runs at an average of 37.10, including three half-centuries.
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His Test debut was particularly impressive, as he registered fifties in both innings against England. However, inconsistent opportunities and stiff competition for middle-order spots meant he subsequently slipped out of the selectors’ plans.
Sarfaraz’s return also follows a notable transformation in his fitness. The Mumbai batter has worked extensively on his conditioning and shed considerable weight this year after facing criticism over his fitness. His improved physical shape has now coincided with a timely return to India’s Test setup.
🚨 NEWS 🚨
Sai Sudharsan ruled out of the #SLvIND Test series; Sarfaraz Khan named replacement.
Details 🔽 #TeamIndia https://t.co/lF6h8jabZd pic.twitter.com/Dk0C4HI37p
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 9, 2026
Sarfaraz has been drafted into the squad after Sudharsan was ruled out of the Sri Lanka series with a right-toe stress reaction. The left-hander sustained the injury during India A’s tour of Sri Lanka last month and has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Sudharsan had firmly established himself as India’s No. 3 in recent Test cricket and was in excellent form, scoring centuries in both unofficial Tests against Sri Lanka A. However, despite making significant progress in his recovery, the BCCI Medical Team has not cleared him to return for the upcoming series.
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Sarfaraz’s recall comes at a challenging time for India, with several key players unavailable due to injuries. Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep are among those dealing with fitness concerns or unavailable for the series.
With the Sri Lanka Tests part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, India will hope Sarfaraz can make the most of his latest opportunity and strengthen their batting lineup.
INDIA’s UPDATED SQUAD: 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.
