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 selectors announced a 15-member squad led by Shubman Gill.
For followers of the domestic game, Jain’s inclusion comes as little surprise. The off-spinner has quietly built one of the strongest red-ball records among India’s all-rounders, delivering season after season with bat and ball without ever breaking into the senior side.
His call-up also arrives at a significant juncture. While Washington Sundar has been included in the squad, his availability remains subject to fitness as he continues recovering from a hamstring injury. With uncertainty surrounding Sundar and India in need of a specialist right-arm finger spinner to complement Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar, the selectors turned to Jain, who also brings valuable lower-order batting to the mix.
The timing of the selection is no coincidence. Only weeks ago, Jain impressed on India A’s tour of Sri Lanka, claiming six wickets across two matches while scoring an unbeaten 70. Those performances, delivered 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 side’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 his father, Subodh Jain, represented Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. Early in Saransh’s career, the family went through a difficult period when his father underwent cancer surgery while Saransh was away on a cricket tour in Australia. Unable to speak after the operation, Subodh wrote his son a note urging 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.
Should Jain make 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 a single standout season. He was a key member of Madhya Pradesh’s historic 2021-22 Ranji Trophy-winning side, excelling through the knockout stages before scoring a crucial 57 in the final against Mumbai to help his side lift its maiden title.
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His all-round game has only sharpened since then. During the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, Jain scored 360 runs and took 35 wickets, performances that earned him the Lala Amarnath Award for the tournament’s best all-rounder. He followed it up with another outstanding Ranji campaign, scoring 518 runs at an average of 57.55 while picking up 30 wickets at 20.43.
Jain further enhanced his reputation at 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 spin-friendly conditions. Alongside his six wickets across the two matches, the 33-year-old struck a gritty unbeaten 70, helping India A seal the series and cementing his credentials as an all-round option.
Now, after more than a decade in domestic cricket, Jain stands on the verge of fulfilling a lifelong dream. At a time when Indian cricket is constantly on the hunt for its next young star, his maiden call-up serves as 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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