Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Saransh Jain was handed his much-awaited maiden India Test cap as he made his debut in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday, with Kuldeep Yadav left out of the playing XI. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder received his cap from temmate and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja during the team huddle before the start of the Colombo Test.
India won the toss and captain Shubman Gill elected to bat first at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Gill confirmed Jain’s debut at the toss, but his explanation for Kuldeep’s absence came as a surprise, with the India captain revealing that the left-arm wrist-spinner had been dropped because of an “infection”.
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India entered the second Test with a 1-0 lead after their commanding 165-run victory in Galle. Kuldeep had played the opening Test but managed only one wicket from 25 overs, while Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Manav Suthar made a greater impact with the ball.
Jain had strengthened his case with years of consistent performances in domestic cricket and a productive stint in Sri Lankan conditions. During India A’s recent tour, he took six wickets across two matches and scored an unbeaten 70, further underlining his suitability to the conditions.
His selection gives India another right-arm finger-spin option while also adding batting depth to the lower order. With India continuing to favour a five-bowler combination, Jain’s ability to contribute in both departments provides the team with a different balance.
WHO IS SARANSH JAIN?
Born in Indore on March 31, 1993, Jain made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh in the 2014-15 season. His father, Subodh Jain, also represented MP in the Ranji Trophy, while Saransh developed his cricket at Indore’s Vijay Club alongside Rajat Patidar.
Jain played an important role in Madhya Pradesh’s maiden Ranji Trophy triumph in 2021-22, taking 13 wickets across the knockout stages and scoring a crucial 57 in the final against Mumbai.
He continued to establish himself as a reliable all-rounder, taking 35 wickets and scoring 360 runs in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy. Those performances earned him the Lala Amarnath Award for the tournament’s best all-rounder.
His 2025 Duleep Trophy campaign further strengthened his credentials. Representing Central Zone, Jain took 16 wickets in two matches and scored half-centuries in both the semi-final and final to finish as Player of the Series.
He carried that form into the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, scoring 518 runs at 57.55 while taking 30 wickets at 20.43. Across 54 first-class matches, he has accumulated 2,223 runs and 188 wickets.
WHY WAS KULDEEP DROPPED?
Kuldeep’s omission initially appeared to be a selection call after his quiet outing in Galle. Since making his Test debut in 2017, the left-arm wrist-spinner has played only 19 Tests, with team combinations and India’s preference for finger spinners repeatedly limiting his opportunities. He was also left out of all 10 Tests on India’s preceding tours of Australia and England.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir, however, had backed Kuldeep ahead of the Colombo Test.
“Ultimately, we know how good a bowler Kuldeep is. And more importantly, sometimes, it’s up to the captain as well (team selection). It’s not about under-bowling. It’s about getting the result. For me, I think that is more important,” Gambhir said.
“When you play five proper bowlers, someone will eventually get under-bowled. But it’s not about someone not delivering and getting under-bowled. It’s the captain or the management’s decision as to who will be most effective in that particular condition.”
Gambhir also stressed that Kuldeep remains part of India’s plans.
“For a very long period of time, we get Kuldeep doing the right things. We know how successful and how effective he can be in a good condition,” he said.
India’s spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule offered similar backing.
“He’s been bowling extremely well. It’s just the situation which arose in Galle, he had to play a different role. For me, he has always been a match-winner and he definitely is in the scheme of things,” Bahutule said.
The “infection” revelation added an unexpected twist to Kuldeep’s omission, but for Jain, the circumstances matter less than the opportunity itself. After years of building his case in domestic cricket, the 33-year-old now has his first chance to show that his all-round skills can make him a valuable part of India’s Test setup.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
