Ruturaj Gaikwad has been named as the replacement for injured Riyan Parag in the India A squad for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Sunday (May 31).

Riyan Parag Ruled Out Due to Hamstring Injury

Riyan Parag, who was named the vice-captain in the squad, has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The young all-rounder, who led Rajasthan Royals to a Qualifier 2 finish in IPL 2026, was struggling with the injury during the tournament and missed a couple of matches. He will now undergo rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru under the supervision of the BCCI medical team.

Parag's absence opens the door for Gaikwad, who not only earns a return to the India A setup but also takes over the vice-captaincy duties alongside captain Tilak Varma.

Gaikwad's Opportunity After Disappointing IPL Campaign

The selection offers Gaikwad an immediate opportunity to rebuild momentum after a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign. Despite leading the Chennai Super Kings, the right-handed opener struggled to make his usual impact, scoring 337 runs at an average of 28.08 and a strike rate of 123.44.

Despite his lean IPL season, India A's selectors have shown faith in Gaikwad's ability by bringing him into the squad and naming him vice-captain. The tour could prove crucial for Gaikwad as he looks to push his case for future national-team opportunities.

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.

Updated India A Squad

The updated India A squad for the 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.

Tri-Series Schedule and Venues

The tri-series, involving the 'A' teams from Sri Lanka, India and Afghanistan, will begin on June 9. Each team will play each other twice before the final which is scheduled on June 21. All the matches will be hosted at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

The tour will also include two multi-day matches against Sri Lanka A, which will be played in Galle. The squad for those red-ball fixtures will be announced separately.