R Ashwin is shaping up well, looked good in training: Jasprit Bumrah on spinner's match fitness for SL Tests

India vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah opened up on Ravichandran Ashwin's match fitness ahead of Sri Lanka Tests, saying that the veteran spinner was shaping up well in training.

India vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah said that Ravichandran Ashwin is shaping up well and looked good in the training session, hinting at the veteran off-spinner's inclusion in the first Test of a two-match series against Sri Lanka in Mohali, starting March 4. Ashwin, who last played for India in the ODI series against South Africa last month, was ruled out of the limited-overs series against West Indies due to an unknown injury.

Notably, Ashwin was seen training rigorously in the nets alongside several members of the Indian men's Test cricket team at the IS Bindra PCA International Stadium. Ashwin had reached Mohali 10 days before the 1st Test against Sri Lanka. The Indian team will play the first Test match of the series at Mohali from March 4 to March 8 before moving to Bengaluru for the second Test.

"Ashwin is shaping up well. No complaints. He looked good and did everything in training today. Batted, bowled and did fielding. Hopefully, there won't be any issue," Jasprit Bumrah told reporters in a virtual interaction ahead of the Test series vs Sri Lanka.

Ashwin has taken 430 wickets from 84 Tests and is just behind Kapil Dev (434) and Anil Kumble in the list of India's highest wicket-takers in the longest format. Ashwin has picked 300 of his 430 Test wickets on Indian soil and holds the record for the fastest bowler to pick 300 Test wickets in 54 matches.

Rohit Sharma's first Test as captain will also usher in a new era for India's middle-order with Shubman Gill and Hanuma Vihari all set to become long-term replacements of veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

India’s Test squad against Sri Lanka: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, R. Ashwin (subject to fitness clearance), Kuldeep Yadav, Saurabh Kumar, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain).