India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to a persistent left knee injury, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday.

The 32-year-old was initially included in the squad subject to a fitness test but failed to recover fully, prompting the BCCI to name uncapped fast bowler Auqib Nabi as his replacement. Bumrah sustained the injury while fielding during an ODI against England in Cardiff in July.

Nabi, 29, hails from Jammu and Kashmir and has earned his maiden senior call-up after impressive domestic performances, taking 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons. In the 2025-26 season, he claimed 60 wickets, helping his team secure their first title.

The right-arm pacer also featured for India A on their tour of Sri Lanka in June-July, taking six wickets in two first-class matches. Nabi becomes the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to be selected for the senior Test side.

The BCCI also noted that batter Sai Sudharsan's participation remains subject to fitness clearance. The series begins in Galle on August 15, with the second Test scheduled in Colombo from August 23.

Source: www.aljazeera.com