Who is Saransh Jain? All you need to know about India's latest Test entrant
Saransh Jain with Harbhajan Singh (Source: IG/@saranshjain13)
Published - 28 Jul 2026, 12:43 PM• Read time - 5 mins
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15. As many as four spinners have been picked for the tour, including a maiden call-up for off-spinner Saransh Jain.
Saransh is a 33-year-old bowling allrounder who plays for Madhya Pradesh in the domestic circuit. He bowls right-arm off-breaks and bats left-handed. Saransh has claimed 188 wickets in 54 first-class games, averaging 27.30, including 10 five-wicket hauls. He has also aggregated 2223 runs in the first-class circuit at an average of 31.75, including two centuries and 14 fifties.
He was one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy season. In seven games, Saransh snared 30 scalps at an average of 20.43, including two four-fors and a five-wicket haul. He amassed 518 runs at an average of 57.55, including a century and three fifties.
Saransh Jain's first-class record
| Format | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | 100s | 50s | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First‑class | 54 | 85 | 15 | 2223 | 103* | 31.75 | 2 | 14 | 232 | 16 |
| Format | Matches | Innings | Wickets | Best Bowling (Match) | Average | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First‑class | 54 | 97 | 188 | 9/71 | 27.30 | 54.3 | 10 | 10 |
Saransh was the leading wicket-taker in the previous Duleep Trophy season with 16 wickets in just two matches, averaging 24.00, including two five-wicket hauls. He played a monumental role in helping Central Zone clinch the title. It was not only his bowling that guided Central Zone to a title finish. He also accumulated 136 runs at an astounding average of 68.00, including two fifties.
Saransh Jain has earned his maiden Test call-up 👏
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) July 28, 2026
Take a look at the new off-spinner, who set the stage on fire with his stunning 5/49 in the Duleep Trophy final. 👌 pic.twitter.com/VIlTxFDhAy
He picked 6/158 and scored 70 in India A's 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka A in the second Unofficial Test, which led to the team's 1-0 series win.
The selectors have picked Saransh due to the presence of several left-handers in Sri Lanka's batting line-up. With an injury cloud hovering over Washington Sundar's availability, Saransh could be drafted straightaway into the playing XI as India look to exploit the heavy left-handedness of Sri Lanka.
India squad for Test tour of Sri Lanka
Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain
*Subject to fitness clearance