Uncapped off-spin all-rounder Saransh Jain has received his maiden India Test call-up for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka in August. The 33-year-old replaces Washington Sundar, who has been ruled out of the first Test after sustaining a hamstring injury.
Jain’s selection comes on the back of consistent performances for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and India A, putting him in line for a potential Test debut. Meanwhile, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja returns to the squad after being rested for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June.
The remainder of the 15-member squad largely remains unchanged, with Jasprit Bumrah returning to lead the pace attack. However, both Bumrah and No. 3 batter Sai Sudharsan have been included subject to fitness clearance, while Nitish Kumar Reddy, who continues his rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, has not been selected.
India squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain
Saransh Jain’s maiden Test call-up follows an impressive rise in red-ball cricket, with the off-spin all-rounder emerging as one of Madhya Pradesh’s standout performers in domestic cricket. The 33-year-old has claimed 188 wickets in 54 first-class matches at an average of 27.30.
With the bat, the left-hander has scored 2,223 runs at 31.75, including two centuries and 14 fifties. His all-round brilliance played a key role in Central Zone’s Duleep Trophy triumph last September, where he picked up 16 wickets and scored 136 runs in two matches.
He carried that form into the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, amassing 518 runs at 57.55 while taking 30 wickets at 20.43. Saransh also impressed on India A’s recent tour of Sri Lanka, claiming seven wickets and scoring an unbeaten 70 in the second unofficial Test.
India Miss Sundar, Nitish And Harsh Dubey For Sri Lanka Tests
Among the notable absentees from the squad are Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harsh Dubey, all of whom featured in the one-off Test against Afghanistan. While Sundar has been ruled out of the opening Test with a hamstring injury, the BCCI has not clarified his availability for the second match.
Jasprit Bumrah returns to the squad after missing the Afghanistan Test following a left knee injury sustained during the ODI series in England. However, both Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan have been included subject to fitness clearance. Sudharsan retired hurt in the first unofficial Test but bounced back with scores of 168 and an unbeaten 25 in the next match.
Manav Suthar has retained his place and could battle Saransh Jain and Kuldeep Yadav for a spot if India field three spinners. The pace unit also features Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar, with Brar coming off a 10-wicket match haul for India A in Galle.
The batting group remains largely unchanged, with Devdutt Padikkal named as the reserve batter and Dhruv Jurelcontinuing as Rishabh Pant’s backup wicketkeeper. KL Rahul retains the vice-captaincy under Shubman Gill.
India’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka begins on August 15, marking their first Test tour of the island nation in nine years. The opening Test will be played in Galle, followed by the second in Colombo from August 23, while India will also play a four-day warm-up match in Colombo starting August 7.
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