India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka featured one of the biggest surprise selections, with Saransh Jain earning his first ever Test call-up.
The 33 years old all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh was named in India’s 15-member squad on Tuesday (July 28). Despite playing 54 first-class matches, Saransh Jain has never featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL), making his selection even more notable at a time when many players earn national recognition through strong IPL performances.
In his first-class career, Saransh Jain has scored 2,223 runs and taken 188 wickets. After receiving his maiden India call-up, he thanked the selectors for recognising his consistent performances in domestic cricket. He said his selection shows that the IPL is not the only route to representing India and that sustained performances in domestic cricket are equally valuable.
Saransh Jain also shared how he found out about his selection. He had just returned from the Hanuman Temple in Indore when he noticed his phone was filled with missed calls and congratulatory messages. That was when he realised he had been included in India’s Test squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.
The all-rounder was called into the squad after Washington Sundar was ruled out with an injury. However, Saransh Jain believes his recent performances had already put him in contention for national selection.
He highlighted his successful India A tour of Sri Lanka, where he picked up six wickets and scored an unbeaten 70 in the recently concluded two-match series against Sri Lanka A. According to Saransh Jain, those performances gave him confidence that he was ready for the next level. He also described his six-wicket haul against Mumbai in the Irani Trophy two years ago as another important milestone in his cricket journey.
Cricket has always been a part of Saransh Jain’s family. His father, Subodh Jain, is a former first-class cricketer who played nine matches for Madhya Pradesh during the 1990s.
Saransh Jain credited his father as the biggest influence on his career, saying he was the person who inspired him to become a cricketer. He also revealed that his father always encouraged him to develop into a complete player by striving to bowl like a top-class off-spinner while also batting with the responsibility of a genuine No. 4 batter.
Congratulations to Saransh Jain and his family.
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