Saransh Jain poised for India debut in second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo
Sources told India Today on August 19, 2026 that Saransh Jain is set to make his India debut in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. The Madhya Pradesh off-spinner, 33, is understood to have a strong chance of being included in the playing XI, with Kuldeep Yadav the most likely player to make way.
Kuldeep's place is under scrutiny after the opening Test in Galle, where he returned figures of 25-0-103-1, taking one wicket in Sri Lanka's first innings and none in the second. Manav Suthar claimed a 10-wicket match haul and Ravindra Jadeja picked up four wickets across the two innings as India secured a 165-run victory in that match. The win, which was India's 600th Test, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Jain was born in Indore on March 31, 1993, and made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh in the 2014-15 season. His father, Subodh Jain, played Ranji Trophy cricket for Madhya Pradesh and had aspirations of representing India, ambitions he passed on to his sons. Initially the family's hopes centered on Jain's elder brother, but as his elder sibling's career stalled, focus shifted to Saransh.
Jain developed his game at Indore's Vijay Club alongside Rajat Patidar, who later represented India and captained Madhya Pradesh and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. During a club tour of Australia, Subodh was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery; the family withheld the diagnosis until his return and Subodh, unable to speak properly after the operation, wrote a note asking his son to remain focused on cricket, a note Jain has kept.
He became an important red-ball performer for Madhya Pradesh in their 2021-22 Ranji Trophy title run, appearing in the quarter-final, semi-final and final and taking 13 wickets across those knockout matches. In the final against Mumbai he scored 57 as Madhya Pradesh secured their maiden Ranji Trophy title.
Jain's 2022-23 season produced 360 runs and 35 wickets, earning him the Lala Amarnath Award for the best all-rounder in the Ranji Trophy. He received an India A call-up for the series against England Lions in 2024, where he recorded half-centuries in both innings of the match cited by selectors.
In the 2025 Duleep Trophy representing Central Zone, Jain took 16 wickets in two matches and scored half-centuries in both the semi-final and the final, earning the Player of the Series award. He followed that with a Ranji season in which he amassed 518 runs at an average of 57.55 and took 30 wickets at 20.43, performances the source says have pushed him into contention for an India debut.
If picked, Jain would feature in the Colombo Test as India seek to close out the two-match series while holding a 1-0 lead after their 165-run win in Galle.
