Thirty-three-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain has earned his maiden call-up to the Indian Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka.
The decision by the Selection Committee rewards a decade of patient domestic grind, drafting the off-spinning all-rounder into the 15-member contingent as cover for Washington Sundar, who is sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
Career Highlights
Early Days & Profile: Born in Indore on March 31, 1993, Jain is a left-handed lower-order batter and right-arm off-spinner. He made his First-Class debut for Madhya Pradesh during the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy season.
Domestic Cornerstone: A crucial member of Madhya Pradesh’s historic Ranji Trophy-winning squad under head coach Chandrakant Pandit, Jain has accumulated 188 wickets across 54 First-Class matches. Over the past three Ranji seasons alone, he picked up 78 wickets.
Recent India A Exploits: Jain’s selection was cemented following his standout performances for India A during their recent tour of Sri Lanka. In the second four-day game against Sri Lanka A at Galle, he struck a crucial unbeaten 70 at No. 7 and bagged 6 wickets across both innings to power India A to a 10-wicket triumph.
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Strategic Fit in India’s Test Squad
Saransh Jain’s addition brings balance to India’s spin options in Sri Lankan conditions. With left-arm orthodox spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar, alongside left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Jain serves as the team’s sole specialist right-arm finger spinner in Sundar’s absence.
India’s 15-Member India Test Squad
Squad: Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain.
*means subject to fitness clearance from BCCI.
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