The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Shubman Gill will lead the team with KL Rahul as the vice-captain for the tour.
For 33-year-old all-rounder Saransh Jain, who has been playing domestic cricket for a decade, this series is a big moment as he received his maiden senior national call-up. The first Test will be held on August 15 at Galle International Cricket Stadium, followed by the second in Colombo on August 23. India are currently placed fifth in the World Test Championship standings.
Saransh Jain Receives Surprise Maiden India Call-Up
The most notable news from the selection is the inclusion of Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain. Specifically, the 33-year-old off-spinner replaces Washington Sundar, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury. Jain has spent many years performing consistently in India’s domestic circuit since his first-class debut in the 2014-15 season. Furthermore, his recent form for India ‘A’ in Sri Lanka made a strong impression on the selectors.
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
Ravindra Jadeja returns, Saransh Jain earns maiden call-up for India’s Test tour of Sri Lanka
Injured Washington Sundar misses out#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/ZF8UgSaeqO
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) July 28, 2026
During the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka ‘A’, Jain displayed excellent all-round skills by scoring an unbeaten 70 and taking six wickets. Therefore, the selectors believe his experience in Sri Lankan conditions will benefit the senior team. Jain has played 54 first-class matches so far, proving himself as a reliable player with both bat and ball.
India Confirmed Test Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar
Domestic Records of Saransh Jain
Saransh Jain played exceptionally in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season. He scored 518 runs with an average of 57.55. In that time, he also took 30 wickets at an average of 20.43. This consistent performance helped him climb the ranks to the national squad.
Reward for perseverance. 🤍
Saransh Jain’s outstanding domestic record has earned him a place in India’s Test squad. Time to embrace the biggest stage. 🇮🇳🏏#SLvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/vYdaoeOa1y
— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) July 28, 2026
Meanwhile, his 16 wickets and 136 runs in the Duleep Trophy last September helped Central Zone win the title.
Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah Return to the Squad
Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah are also back in the squad. Ravindra Jadeja makes a comeback to the red-ball set-up after recovering from a tennis elbow injury that left him out of action since the 2026 IPL season. He strengthens the spin department with Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar.
Washington Sundar, Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah are reportedly in a race against time to regain full fitness, leaving the selectors with crucial selection decisions.#SLvIND #TeamIndia https://t.co/tfYL0T2wQB
— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) July 26, 2026
But the availability of pace leader Jasprit Bumrah remains uncertain. The BCCI confirmed that he can play only if he is cleared by the Centre of Excellence on fitness. Bumrah had suffered a knee injury during India’s tour of England and was ruled out of the final ODI at Lord’s. The medical staff will be watching his progress closely before the start of the matches.
Fitness Concerns for Key Players
Similarly, young batter Sai Sudharsan is also awaiting fitness clearance before he can join the team. Sudharsan suffered an injury during an unofficial Test match last month but showed promise by scoring 168 in a subsequent game.
The BCCI wants to ensure both Bumrah and Sudharsan are fully fit to handle the demands of Test cricket. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar is definitely out of the first Test due to a right hamstring strain.
India’s Strategy for the Sri Lanka Test Series
This is the first series for India since they lost 2-0 to South Africa at home in November. India is currently placed fifth, with Sri Lanka just behind at sixth. This makes the upcoming games very crucial for both sides.
The squad features a strong spin attack which is likely to play a big role on Sri Lankan pitches. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are the veteran leaders, and Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain add a new variety. Suthar, in particular, kept his place after taking seven wickets on Test debut against Afghanistan.
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