3 players who can replace Sai Sudharsan for Sri Lanka Tests

A week before the start of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, India have been dealt a major blow as their number three batter, Sai Sudharsan, has been ruled out of the series with an injury. The left-handed batter was part of the 15-member squad for the series, subject to fitness clearance, but has failed to recover fully from his toe injury.

Sudharsan’s absence will be a major setback for the blue brigade as he has been in superb touch with the bat in recent times. The BCCI selectors will meet soon to name the replacement for the Chennai-born for the away series in the coming days.

Sai Sudharsan ruled out with toe injury — Here are India's top contenders to replace him

In place of Sudharsan, India went ahead with Devdutt Padikkal at number three during their warm-up fixture against Sri Lanka XI in Colombo. The Karnataka batter celebrated a fine century and is expected to retain his number three place for the two Tests. Here are the three possible replacements for Sudharsan in the Test series against Sri Lanka:

#3 Sarfaraz Khan-

A couple of years ago, Sarfaraz Khan was one of the biggest names for the Indian side in the Test format. His consistent performance in domestic cricket forced the selectors to pick him in 2024. In the three Tests he has featured in, the right-handed batter has smashed 371 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37.10, thanks to three fifties and one century at the best score of 150.

Sarfaraz’s 150 came against New Zealand during the opening Test of the 2024 series in Bengaluru. However, he was left out of the team a couple of games later in Mumbai. He could be a good replacement for Sudharsan for the middle order due to his strong skills against the spinners.

#2 Shaik Rasheed-

The right-handed batter from Andhra Pradesh, Shaik Rasheed, has also been a regular member of domestic cricket and has done well with the bat for the state side. In 47 innings of first-class cricket, he has smashed 1959 runs at an average of 46.64 and a strike rate of nearly 50, shouldering on five centuries and 10 half-centuries at the best score of 203 runs.

Rasheed was part of India A’s two-match unofficial Test series against Sri Lanka A in June this year. He smashed a fine fifty in the first game in Galle.

He also finished the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 as the 16th leading run-getter of the competition, bagging 627 runs in 11 innings at an average of nearly 90 and a strike rate of 56, thanks to three half-centuries and two centuries at the best score of an undefeated 140 runs. Rasheed can be a good option for the middle order of the Indian side as Sudharsan’s replacement.

#3 Rajat Patidar-

Rajat Patidar’s first stint as the Indian Test batter was poor. In six innings, the right-handed batter managed only 63 runs at an average of 10.50 with the best score of 32. The 33-year-old, who has smacked 5509 runs in 132 innings of first-class cricket for Madhya Pradesh at an average of 44.07 with 16 centuries and 27 fifties at the best score of 205*, deserves to make his return to the Indian side.

During the 2025/26 season of the Ranji Trophy, he scored a total of 529 runs across the seven matches and 12 innings. He began the campaign as the newly appointed captain and smashed his maiden first-class double century of 205 runs off 328 balls in the opening match against Punjab.

Having already displayed his skills to counter the spinners aggressively, Patidar can be India’s solution to Sri Lanka’s spin threat in the Test series.

The opening Test for India will be played in Galle from August 15, while the second Test match of the series will be in Colombo from August 23.