Ruturaj Gaikwad has earned a return to the India A setup after being drafted into the squad for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka. The right-hander comes in as a replacement for Riyan Parag, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury and will now undergo rehabilitation under the supervision of the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The selection offers Gaikwad an immediate opportunity to rebuild momentum after a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign. Despite leading the Chennai Super Kings, the opener struggled to make his usual impact, scoring 337 runs at an average of 28.08 and a strike rate of 123.44. India A’s selectors, however, have shown faith in his ability by not only bringing him into the squad but also naming him vice-captain alongside captain Tilak Varma. The tour could prove crucial for Gaikwad as he looks to push his case for future national-team opportunities.Updated India A squad for tri-series: 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, Anukul Roy, The tri-series will feature India A, Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. All white-ball matches will be played in Dambulla before the tour moves to Galle for two multi-day matches against Sri Lanka A. The squad for those red-ball fixtures will be announced separately. For Gaikwad, the tour represents more than just another India A assignment. After a difficult IPL season, it offers a valuable chance to rediscover form, lead from the front and remind selectors why he remains one of India’s most highly rated batting prospects.
