New Delhi, July 29:
Veteran Madhya Pradesh off-spinner Saransh Jain earned his maiden Test call-up on Tuesday, capping a decade of consistent domestic performances as the selectors announced India’s 15-member squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka next month.
As reported by PTI on Sunday, the 33-year-old Saransh was in contention due to Washington Sundar’s likely unavailability for the opening Test because of his ongoing rehabilitation from a hamstring injury.
The short series will be played in Galle (August 15 to 19) and Colombo (August 23 to 27). India will also play a four-day practice match from August 7 to prepare for the main assignment. Saransh’s inclusion stems from the Shubman Gill-led side’s need for a right-arm finger spinner in Washington’s absence.
A key member of Madhya Pradesh’s Ranji Trophy-winning side under Chandrakant Pandit’s coaching, the tall off-spinner enhanced his credentials during the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka, claiming six wickets across the two matches while also scoring a gritty unbeaten 70.With Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar being the left-arm orthodox spinners and Kuldeep Yadav a left-arm wrist spinner, the selectors opted for variety by drafting in the only specialist right-arm finger spinner in contention.
Jadeja had been given a break from the one off home Test against Afghanistan in June.Mumbai all-rounder Tanush Kotian, who had replaced the retired R Ashwin during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, seems to have slipped in the pecking order because of his inability to consistently produce wicket-taking performances.The rest of the squad was largely on expected lines.
Right-arm fast bowler Gurnoor Brar retained his place after his outstanding 10-wicket match haul against Sri Lanka A.Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and batter Sai Sudharsan have been invluded subject to fitness and will undergo assessments at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence later this month before the team departs for Sri Lanka.
While no official standby has been named, Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur and Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi remain in contention in case Bumrah fails to recover fully from his impact injury.
The Sri Lanka series marks India’s next assignment in the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle and presents an opportunity for several domestic performers to stake their claim at the highest level. While Saransh Jain’s long-awaited maiden call-up headlines the squad, all eyes will also be on the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan.