Right-handed batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad has been included in the India A squad for the upcoming 50-over tri-series in Sri Lanka, starting on June 9. Gaikwad replaces Riyan Parag, who is sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed this change, stating that Parag’s recovery will be overseen by the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Parag, who was set to be the vice-captain for India ‘A’ in the tri-series, sustained the hamstring injury while leading the Rajasthan Royals in the latter part of IPL 2026. His injury forced him to miss matches against Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans. With Rajasthan Royals exiting the IPL, Parag will now undergo rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Gaikwad’s stint as the captain of Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026 was not as successful, with the team finishing in eighth place. Gaikwad’s individual performance saw him score 337 runs in 14 matches at an average of 28.08 and a strike rate of 123.44. Having previously represented India in white-ball cricket, Gaikwad now joins the India A squad alongside captain Tilak Varma and fast bowler Anshul Kamboj as the only members with experience in the senior men’s team.
India A is scheduled to kick off their campaign against Sri Lanka A on June 9 in Dambulla. The tri-series, which includes Afghanistan A as the third team, will conclude with the final on June 21. Following the 50-over series, India A will engage in two red-ball matches against Sri Lanka A in Galle, with a separate squad announcement for those fixtures.
