India arrive in Colombo without Bumrah as spin vulnerability looms

Shubman Gill's India arrived in Colombo on Tuesday for a two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15. The team is without Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out after failing to recover from a left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England. Auqib Nabi earned a maiden call-up as replacement while Sai Sudharsan continues rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

This is India's first Test series in Sri Lanka in over a decade. The last tour in 2017 ended in a 3-0 whitewash. Sri Lanka have since found a home advantage through spin, with left-arm orthodox bowler Prabath Jayasuriya taking 41 wickets in 13 innings over the last three years.

India's recent home series losses to New Zealand and South Africa exposed technical hesitations against spin that were once unthinkable. The team will play a three-day warm-up match starting August 7 at the Nondescripts Cricket Club before the first Test in Galle.