Saransh Jain made his Test debut for India in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on August 23, 2026. He replaced Kuldeep Yadav, who was unavailable due to an infection.
Saransh is a classical off-spinner whose bowling style has barely been influenced by white-ball cricket. His coach Chandrakant Pandit noticed this rarity when he took over the Madhya Pradesh team in 2020. Pandit saw that Saransh bowled with dip and drift and got plenty of revolutions on the ball.
Saransh’s dedication to red-ball cricket has been clear throughout his career. After spending time as a net bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024, he told Pandit that he did not want to do that again. He said he was keen to play for India in red-ball cricket and did not want white-ball commitments to affect that.
Pandit worked closely with Saransh to build his confidence. He gave him security and stuck with him even when it came at the cost of other spinners. Pandit also suggested small tweaks, including bowling from round the wicket, which Saransh initially resisted but later adopted successfully.
Saransh has been playing domestic cricket since 2014 but truly found his rhythm from the 2021-22 season onward. His domestic record has been consistent. He took 35 wickets in eight games in 2022-23, 27 wickets in eight in 2023-24, 21 wickets in seven in 2024-25, and 30 wickets in seven in 2025-26. By the time of his India debut, he had 188 wickets in 54 first-class matches.
He has also developed his batting. He scored a half-century in the Ranji Trophy final when Madhya Pradesh won the title in 2021-22. On the recent A tour of Sri Lanka, he made an unbeaten 70. Pandit encouraged him to work on his batting, and Saransh took that advice seriously.
His Test debut came as a result of his years of hard work and the team’s need for a classical off-spinner. Sri Lanka also added a fourth left-handed batter to their side, which made Saransh’s inclusion a tactical choice.
India Make One Change as Shubman Gill Chooses to Bat First in Colombo Test
Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. India made one change to their playing XI. Off-spinner Saransh Jain made his Test debut, replacing Kuldeep Yadav. Gill confirmed that Kuldeep had some infection and was unavailable for selection.
Sri Lanka also made two changes. Opener Kamil Mishara made his debut, and Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who had been brought in as a concussion substitute in the previous Test, was officially included in the XI.
India’s playing XI included Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, captain Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.
Sri Lanka’s XI featured Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, and Asitha Fernando.
Gill said the pitch looked harder than in Galle and would be a good wicket to bat on for the first two or three days, with the ball likely to turn later. Dhananjaya de Silva said he did not mind bowling first because of cloud cover, which could help the bowlers strike early.
India won the first Test by 165 runs and are looking to win the second Test to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the WTC final.
Kuldeep Yadav Faces a Major Test Selection Battle After Colombo Setback
Kuldeep Yadav was ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo due to an infection. On paper, his absence was a straightforward injury replacement. But the circumstances surrounding his omission make it feel much bigger than a missed Test.
Kuldeep arrived in Sri Lanka knowing this was his best opportunity in over a year to prove he belongs on the Test side. He did not play a single Test during India’s tour of England in 2025. Sri Lanka, with its slower surfaces and greater assistance for spin, appeared to be the perfect setting for him. Instead, he will leave Colombo with more questions than answers.
The first Test at Galle was a frustrating outing. Kuldeep finished with match figures of 1 for 103 in 25 overs, making him the least effective spinner across both teams. There were flashes of his quality. He deceived Kamindu Mendis with a beautifully flighted leg-break and repeatedly beat Dhananjaya de Silva with drift. But too many deliveries drifted onto the pads or landed too full, allowing Sri Lanka’s left-handers to settle into the sweep.
Had Kuldeep been fit, Colombo would have offered an immediate chance to put in a better performance. Instead, Saransh Jain walked into the XI on debut, and India moved on without ever finding out whether Galle was simply an off day.
Since making his debut in 2017, Kuldeep has played only 19 Tests and claimed 80 wickets at an average of 23.36. His infection is temporary. The uncertainty surrounding his place is not. When Kuldeep returns, he will not simply be fighting for fitness. He will be trying to convince India that a bowler capable of producing match-winning spells still deserves a sustained run.
FAQs
Q. When did Saransh Jain make his Test debut?
A. Jain debuted against Sri Lanka on August 23, 2026.
Q. Why did Saransh Jain replace Kuldeep Yadav?
A. Kuldeep was unavailable due to an infection.
Q. How many first-class wickets has Saransh taken?
A. Jain had taken 188 wickets in 54 matches.
Q. Why was Saransh selected for the Colombo Test?
A. India wanted a classical off-spinner against Sri Lanka.
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