India have suffered another injury concern ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, with captain Shubman Gill ruled out of Day 1 of the three-day warm-up match against the Sri Lanka XI in Colombo as a precaution after sustaining a finger injury during training. Gill injured his right ring finger during Thursday’s net session after being struck twice while batting.
Although the injury is not believed to be serious, the Indian team management has decided to rest the skipper for the opening day of the practice game to avoid aggravating the issue before the crucial Test series begins on August 15 in Galle.
Confirming the development, the BCCI posted on X, “The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress.”
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In Gill’s absence, vice-captain KL Rahul will lead the side on the opening day of the warm-up fixture. The practice match is India’s only opportunity to fine-tune its preparations before the World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka.
Update: Captain Shubman Gill sustained an impact injury to his right ring finger during India’s practice on Thursday. As a precautionary measure, he will not take the field on Day 1 of the warm-up game against SLC XI. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress.
KL Rahul… https://t.co/Mzu2yW4OgX
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 7, 2026
The latest setback adds to India’s growing injury concerns. Premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has already been ruled out of the tour after failing to recover from the knee injury he sustained during the ODI series against England. Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has replaced Bumrah in the Test squad and is in line for a potential international debut.
India are also without all-rounder Washington Sundar and fast bowler Harshit Rana, both of whom continue to recover from fitness issues. Meanwhile, top-order batter B Sai Sudharsan is racing against time to regain full fitness after a toe injury.
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The increasing number of injuries has reportedly prompted the BCCI to review the team’s fitness protocols. According to reports, team physio Kamlesh Jain was questioned over the recurring fitness setbacks, while the board is expected to standardise fitness benchmarks after concerns emerged that some senior players were allowed relatively easier targets during fitness assessments.
With India currently placed fifth in the World Test Championship standings, the upcoming Sri Lanka series carries immense significance. A strong performance could significantly boost Shubman Gill’s side’s hopes of securing a place in the WTC final after missing out in the previous cycle.
