India’s squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka featured one fresh face on Tuesday, with 33-year-old Saransh Jain earning his maiden Test call-up after years of consistent performances in domestic cricket. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder finally received his long-awaited reward as the selectors announced a 15-member squad led by Shubman Gill.
For followers of the domestic game, Jain’s inclusion is far from a surprise. The off-spinner has quietly built one of the strongest red-ball records among India’s all-rounders, delivering season after season with both bat and ball without ever breaking into the senior side.
His call-up also comes at an important time. While Washington Sundar has been included in the squad, his availability remains subject to fitness as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. With uncertainty surrounding Sundar and India looking for a specialist right-arm finger spinner to complement Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar, the selectors turned to Jain, who also offers valuable lower-order batting.
The timing of the selection is no coincidence either. Only weeks ago, Jain impressed on the India A tour of Sri Lanka, claiming six wickets across two matches while scoring an unbeaten 70. Those performances, in conditions similar to the upcoming Test series, strengthened his case for a place in the senior squad.
WHO IS SARANSH JAIN?
Born in Indore, Jain made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh during the 2014-15 season and has since become one of the team’s most dependable performers. Across 54 First-Class matches, the right-arm off-spinner has scored more than 2,000 runs at an average of 31.75 while claiming 188 wickets at 27.30, establishing himself as a genuine all-rounder.
Cricket runs in the family, with his father Subodh Jain having represented Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. Early in Saransh’s career, however, the family endured a difficult phase when his father underwent cancer surgery while he was away on a cricket tour in Australia. Unable to speak after the operation, Subodh wrote his son a note asking him to stay focused on cricket. Jain has preserved that handwritten message throughout his career, drawing inspiration from it during his long wait for an India call-up.
If Jain makes his debut in Galle, he will become India’s first specialist off-spinner to debut in Test cricket since Washington Sundar in Brisbane in 2021.
SARANSH JAIN’S DOMESTIC EXCELLENCE PAYS OFF
Jain’s rise has been built on consistency rather than one standout season. He was a key member of Madhya Pradesh’s historic 2021-22 Ranji Trophy-winning side, starring in the knockout stages before scoring a crucial 57 in the final against Mumbai to help his team lift their maiden title.
His all-round game has only improved since then. During the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, Jain scored 360 runs and took 35 wickets, performances that earned him the Lala Amarnath Award as the tournament’s best all-rounder. He followed that up with another exceptional Ranji campaign, scoring 518 runs at 57.55 while picking up 30 wickets at 20.43.
Jain also enhanced his reputation in the 2025 Duleep Trophy, where he was named Player of the Series after taking 16 wickets to guide Central Zone to the title.
His final audition came during the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka, where he showcased exactly what India were looking for in spinning conditions. Besides claiming six wickets across the two matches, the 33-year-old struck a gritty unbeaten 70, helping India A seal the series and strengthening his credentials as an all-round option.
Now, after more than a decade in domestic cricket, Jain is on the verge of fulfilling a lifelong dream. At a time when Indian cricket is constantly searching for the next young star, his maiden call-up is a reminder that sustained domestic performances and perseverance still carry weight with the national selectors.
India Test squad vs Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal and Saransh Jain. Washington Sundar has also been included, subject to fitness clearance.
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