Ruturaj Gaikwad has been added back to the India A squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka. He comes in because Riyan Parag is injured with a hamstring issue and is now in rehab under the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Gaikwad had a tough IPL 2026 season. He scored 337 runs with an average of 28.08 and a strike rate of 123.44. It was below his usual standards, especially while leading Chennai Super Kings.
Even with that, selectors have shown trust in him. He has been named vice-captain of India A. Tilak Varma will lead the side.
The tri-series will be played in Sri Lanka. India A, Sri Lanka A, and Afghanistan A are the three teams. White-ball matches will be in Dambulla. Later, red-ball matches against Sri Lanka A will be played in Galle.
The India A squad include Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, and others. There are also wicketkeepers like Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra. Bowlers like Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, and Arshad Khan are also part of the group.
For Gaikwad, this tour is a chance to regain form and confidence after a mixed IPL season.
Riyan Parag Ruled Out of India A Tri-Series, Ruturaj Gaikwad Named Vice-Captain
Riyan Parag has been ruled out of the India A tri-series in Sri Lanka because of a hamstring injury. The injury has kept him from being fit in time for the tour. His rehab will now be managed by the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
He had recently led Rajasthan Royals to the IPL 2026 playoffs. But he carried the injury into the knockout matches. He still played through pain in those games. Rajasthan Royals beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator but lost to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2.
Parag was also originally named vice-captain of the India A squad. After his injury, Ruturaj Gaikwad has replaced him in the squad. Gaikwad is now also the vice-captain under Tilak Varma.
Parag’s IPL 2026 season with the bat was not strong. He scored 309 runs in 14 matches with one half-century. He also took 2 wickets with the ball.
The India A tri-series will start on June 9 in Dambulla. It will feature India A, Sri Lanka A, and Afghanistan A. After this, India A will also play two Test matches against Sri Lanka A. The India A squad include Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma, Priyansh Arya, Ayush Badoni, and others.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also had a strong IPL 2026 season. He scored 776 runs in 16 matches for Rajasthan Royals. He hit back-to-back big scores in the playoffs, including 96 against Gujarat Titans, but his team still lost that match.
India A Squad for Sri Lanka Tri-Series 2026, Tilak Varma to Lead Side
India A squad for the Sri Lanka tri-series is led by Tilak Varma as captain. Ruturaj Gaikwad named new vice-captain after Riyan Parag ruled out due to injury.
Batters in the squad include Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, and Suryansh Shedge. Wicketkeepers are Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra.
All-round and bowling group includes Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh, Anshul Kamboj, and Arshad Khan. Harsh Dubey is also part of the squad.
The series will have India A, Sri Lanka A, and Afghanistan A. It will be played in June 2026. Matches are in Dambulla. The final is on June 21, 2026. After this, India A will also play two multi-day matches in Galle against Sri Lanka A.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Calls CSK’s IPL 2026 Season “a Transition Phase”
Ruturaj Gaikwad said he is proud of CSK’s effort in IPL 2026 even though it was a tough season. He called it a transition phase for the team. CSK finished with 6 wins and 8 losses in 14 matches. They stayed in playoff contention until the final league game but lost to Gujarat Titans by 89 runs.
Gaikwad said the season started badly with three straight losses. The team later found rhythm and won six out of eight matches in the middle phase. He also said injuries hurt the team at key moments. Players like Jamie Overton and Ramakrishna Ghosh were missed, and it affected balance in the final games.
According to him, CSK were often forced to play either one batter short or one bowler short. That made the last few matches harder. He said many young players got valuable experience this season. He mentioned players like Kartik Sharma and Urvil Patel, saying they will improve with more games.
Gaikwad also pointed to missed chances. He mentioned the loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad when they failed to chase 84 in 10 overs. He also said they could have controlled another chase better at Chepauk.
On MS Dhoni, Gaikwad said he will decide his future himself. He said Dhoni will choose what is best for the team, not for personal reasons.
CSK bowling coach Eric Simons said Dhoni was hitting well in nets but could not play due to a leg injury. He added that Dhoni will make the final call based on his fitness and team needs.
FAQs
Q. Why was Ruturaj Gaikwad added to the India A squad?
A. Gaikwad was added after Riyan Parag was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Q. What role does Ruturaj Gaikwad have in the India A team?
A. Gaikwad is the new vice-captain. Tilak Varma is leading the side.
Q. What was Ruturaj Gaikwad’s IPL 2026 performance?
A. Gaikwad scored 337 runs at a strike rate of 123.44.
Q. What is the purpose of the India A tri-series?
A. A white-ball tournament in Sri Lanka involving India A, Sri Lanka A, and Afghanistan A.
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