India may alter XI for Colombo Test as Saransh eyed for debut, reports say

Senior sports journalist Nitin Srivastav has reported that off-spinner Saransh is likely to make his Test debut for India in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, which starts on August 23 (Sunday), potentially replacing Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI.

India secured a comprehensive victory in the first Test of the two-match series at the Galle International Stadium, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring 167 with 15 fours and 1 six in the first innings and adding 44 in the second. Manav Suthar finished with a ten-wicket match haul, including 6/55 in the second innings, and the win earned India 12 points in the World Test Championship 2025-27 table. Shubman Gill & Co. will aim for a 2-0 series result, while Sri Lanka head into the second Test without injured pair Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka and with Dinesh Chandimal listed as doubtful.

India’s first-Test performance also produced concerns that have fed selection speculation: captain Shubman Gill “didn’t look at his best” and Kuldeep Yadav “looked clueless on the spin-friendly wicket,” according to the report. Kuldeep bowled 25 overs in the match and took only 1 wicket for 103 runs, while the report adds that spinners from both teams were otherwise enjoying bowling on the surface.

The team balance is the immediate selection question after India used three left-arm spinners in Galle; Manav Suthar’s bowling and Ravindra Jadeja’s effectiveness left one spinner’s spot open. The report states the 33-year-old all-rounder Saransh could replace Yadav, with India considering a right-arm spin option and the additional batting depth Saransh would provide down the order.

Saransh Jain’s first-class record is given in the report as 2,223 runs in 54 FC games at an average of 31.75 with two centuries and 14 half-centuries, and 188 wickets with the ball. The coverage reiterates that Saransh is likely to make his debut in the second Test in Colombo as per Nitin Srivastav.

The second Test between Sri Lanka and India starts on August 23 (Sunday) at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.