Offspin allrounder Saransh Jain has received his first India Test call-up after being named in the squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka in August. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and batter Sai Sudharsan have also been included, although their participation remains subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Ravindra Jadeja has recovered from the tennis elbow injury that kept him out recently and returns to the Test squad. However, Washington Sundar was unavailable for selection for the opening Test after suffering a hamstring injury during the ODI series against England.
Sundar’s absence has paved the way for Jain, who impressed selectors with his performances on the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka. The 33-year-old scored an unbeaten 70 and claimed six wickets in the second four-day match. Across 54 first-class matches, Jain has scored 2,223 runs at an average of 31.75 and taken 188 wickets at 27.30.
The selectors are understood to have preferred Jain because Sri Lanka are expected to field several left-handed batters, making his offspin a valuable option.
Sai Sudharsan also impressed on the India A tour, scoring centuries in both four-day matches. If he does not receive fitness clearance before the series, Devdutt Padikkal is expected to take the No. 3 spot in the batting order.
India’s pace attack includes Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and uncapped left-arm seamer Gurnoor Brar.
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar has retained his place after taking seven wickets on his Test debut against Afghanistan. Jadeja’s return, however, means there is no place in the squad for Harsh Dubey.
The first Test will begin on August 15 in Galle, while the second will be played from August 23 at the SSC in Colombo. Before the series, India will play a four-day practice match in Colombo starting on August 7.
The Sri Lanka series will be India’s first assignment in the new ICC World Test Championship cycle since their 2-0 home defeat to South Africa in November. Before that, India drew their five-Test series in England 2-2 and defeated West Indies 2-0 at home. India currently sit fifth in the World Test Championship standings, with Sri Lanka one place below them in sixth.
India Test squad: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal and Saransh Jain.
