Saransh Jain earned his long-awaited debut Test cap for India as he played in the second Test against Sri Lanka held in Colombo on Sunday. The 33-year-old all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh received his cap in a team huddle, with veteran player Ravindra Jadeja presenting it to him.
India won the toss, and captain Shubman Gill chose to bat first at the Sinhalese Sports Club. During the toss, Gill confirmed Jain’s debut but mentioned that Kuldeep Yadav was not part of the playing XI due to an “infection,” which surprised many.
Going into this Test, India had a 1-0 lead after a solid 165-run win in the first match in Galle. Although Kuldeep participated in that game, his performance yielded only one wicket in 25 overs. In contrast, Jadeja and debutant Manav Suthar had a more significant impact with the ball.
Jain’s selection comes after consistent performances in domestic cricket that showcased his abilities, particularly in Sri Lankan conditions. During a recent tour with India A, he took six wickets in two matches and scored an impressive unbeaten 70 runs, bolstering his case for selection.
In addition to being a right-arm finger spinner, Jain’s role as a batsman strengthens India’s lower order. The team continues to lean on a five-bowler strategy, and his dual skills offer them a fresh balance.
The squad for the Colombo Test included: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.
### Who is Saransh Jain?
Born on March 31, 1993, in Indore, Jain started his first-class career with Madhya Pradesh in the 2014-15 season. Coming from a cricketing family, his father, Subodh Jain, also played in the Ranji Trophy. Saransh honed his skills at Indore’s Vijay Club alongside fellow cricketer Rajat Patidar.
Jain played a pivotal role in Madhya Pradesh’s historic Ranji Trophy win in the 2021-22 season, taking 13 wickets in the knockout rounds and scoring a critical 57 in the final against Mumbai. He continued to shine as a reliable all-rounder, claiming 35 wickets and amassing 360 runs in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, which led to him being awarded the Lala Amarnath Award for the tournament’s best all-rounder.
His performance in the 2025 Duleep Trophy also stood out. Playing for Central Zone, he secured 16 wickets in just two matches and scored half-centuries in both the semi-final and final, earning the title of Player of the Series.
In the ongoing 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, Jain has scored 518 runs at an average of 57.55 and taken 30 wickets at an impressive rate of 20.43. Over his 54 first-class matches, he has accumulated 2,223 runs and claimed 188 wickets.
### Why was Kuldeep Dropped?
Initially, Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion seemed to be due to his quiet performance in Galle. Since his Test debut in 2017, he has played only 19 matches, limited by team dynamics and a preference for finger spinners. He also missed all 10 Tests during India’s tours of Australia and England.
However, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir supported Kuldeep leading up to the Colombo Test. He stated that while the captain plays a vital role in team selection, it’s important to focus on the results rather than individual performances.
Gambhir emphasized, “We know how good a bowler Kuldeep is. It’s about determining who will be most effective in that particular condition.” His sentiments were echoed by India’s spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, who remarked on Kuldeep’s match-winning potential.
The news of Kuldeep’s “infection” added an unexpected turn to his omission, but for Jain, the focus now is on grasping this significant opportunity. After years of hard work in domestic cricket, he finally has a chance to demonstrate that he can contribute meaningfully to India’s Test squad.
