Ruturaj Gaikwad replaces injured Riyan Parag in India A squad for Sri Lanka tri-series
Synopsis
Riyan Parag's hamstring — picked up during a difficult IPL 2026 run with Rajasthan Royals — has cost him the India A vice-captaincy for the Sri Lanka tri-series. Ruturaj Gaikwad steps in, but with just 337 runs at 28 in IPL 2026, the opener has his own form questions to answer before international selection knocks again.
Key Takeaways
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been added to the India A squad for the 50-over tri-series in Sri Lanka , starting 9 June .
Riyan Parag was ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained while captaining Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 ; he will rehabilitate at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru .
Gaikwad scored 337 runs in 14 IPL 2026 games for CSK at an average of 28.08 , with the side finishing eighth .
India A face Sri Lanka A in the opener on 9 June in Dambulla ; the final is on 21 June .
Afghanistan A is the third team.
Tilak Varma captains the side; Gaikwad , Varma , and Anshul Kamboj are the only players with senior men's team caps.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been drafted into the India A squad for the upcoming 50-over tri-series in Sri Lanka, set to begin on 9 June, after vice-captain Riyan Parag was ruled out with a hamstring injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the change on Sunday, 31 May, with Parag's rehabilitation to be overseen at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
How the Injury Happened
Parag sustained the hamstring injury while captaining Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the closing stages of IPL 2026, forcing him to miss RR's matches against Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans. He was visibly restricted in movement during his final appearances for the side. RR bowed out of IPL 2026 after losing to GT by seven wickets in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh. This is not Parag's first injury setback this year — he had earlier spent time at the CoE in Bengaluru recovering from a shoulder niggle.
Gaikwad's Form and Standing
The right-handed opener had a below-par IPL 2026 campaign leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK), accumulating 337 runs in 14 games at an average of 28.08 and a strike-rate of 123.44, with CSK finishing eighth on the points table. Despite the lean patch, Gaikwad brings senior international pedigree to the India A setup — he last featured in international cricket during India's 2-1 ODI series win over South Africa last year. He joins captain Tilak Varma and fast bowler Anshul Kamboj as the only players in the squad with senior men's team caps.
Tri-Series Schedule and Format
India A open their campaign against hosts Sri Lanka A on 9 June in Dambulla. The round-robin stage runs until 19 June, with Afghanistan A completing the three-team field. The final is scheduled for 21 June. Following the 50-over tournament, India A are slated to play two red-ball matches against Sri Lanka A in Galle, with a separate squad to be announced for those fixtures.
Updated India A Squad
The full squad for the tri-series reads: Tilak Varma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-captain), Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Suryansh Shedge, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Kumar Kushagra (wk), Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Arshad Khan, and Anukul Roy. With the tri-series doubling as a key audition ahead of upcoming international assignments, all eyes will be on how Gaikwad responds to a challenging IPL campaign.
Point of View
Now a hamstring — raise a quiet concern about workload management for young cricketers playing back-to-back IPL and A-team commitments. Gaikwad's inclusion is logical on experience, but his IPL 2026 numbers were uninspiring for a player on the fringes of the senior side. The Sri Lanka tri-series now becomes a form-restoration exercise as much as a development opportunity. Selectors will be watching whether Gaikwad can convert this second chance into a senior recall, or whether the next generation in the squad makes the stronger case.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Riyan Parag replaced in the India A squad?
Riyan Parag was ruled out of the India A tri-series in Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury sustained while captaining Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. He will undergo rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Who is Ruturaj Gaikwad replacing in the India A squad?
Ruturaj Gaikwad replaces Riyan Parag, who was named vice-captain of the India A side before being ruled out with a hamstring injury. Gaikwad will now serve as vice-captain under captain Tilak Varma.
When and where does the India A tri-series in Sri Lanka begin?
The 50-over tri-series begins on 9 June in Dambulla, with India A taking on hosts Sri Lanka A in the opening match. The round-robin stage runs until 19 June and the final is on 21 June; Afghanistan A is the third team.
How did Ruturaj Gaikwad perform in IPL 2026?
Gaikwad had a below-par IPL 2026 season, scoring 337 runs in 14 games for Chennai Super Kings at an average of 28.08 and a strike-rate of 123.44. CSK finished eighth on the points table.
Will India A also play red-ball cricket in Sri Lanka?
Yes, following the 50-over tri-series, India A are scheduled to play two red-ball matches against Sri Lanka A in Galle. A separate squad for those fixtures will be announced at a later date.
