He has it in him: Ashwin backs Saransh Jain for his India Test debut vs Sri Lanka

After years of delivering in domestic cricket, Saransh Jain has finally earned the India Test call-up he long deserved. And if Ravichandran Ashwin is to be believed, the off-spinning all-rounder has everything it takes to succeed on the biggest stage.Ashwin hailed Saransh after maiden Test call-up for SL vs IND. (Photo: Instagram, PTI)Saransh Jain's maiden India Test call-up may have been years in the making, but one of the country's greatest off-spinners believes the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder has earned every bit of it. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has closely followed Jain's rise in domestic cricket, said he hopes the 33-year-old gets the opportunity to prove himself at the highest level.India named Jain in their 15-member squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, rewarding a decade of consistent domestic performances. Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said Jain possesses the qualities needed to succeed in Test cricket, even if competition for places could delay his debut."I am very happy for him. I have seen him. I think very highly of him. He bowls wide off the crease. He attacks. He is a different type of off-spinner. His job is to take wickets. He has done a very commendable job."Ashwin also acknowledged that breaking into India's playing XI would not be straightforward, with Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar expected to be among the spin options. However, he backed Jain to grab his chance whenever it comes. "I hope he gets a chance. Manav will play. Jadeja and Kuldeep will play, so he might have to sit out too. But I really hope because he has it in him to perform."Jain's selection comes at a crucial time, with Washington Sundar included in the squad subject to fitness clearance as he recovers from a hamstring injury. The selectors opted for the experienced off-spinning all-rounder after he impressed on the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka, claiming six wickets across two matches and scoring an unbeaten 70 in conditions similar to those expected in the Test series.A LONG WAIT ENDS FOR SARANSH JAIN Born in Indore, Jain has quietly built one of the strongest domestic records among India's all-rounders since making his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh in the 2014-15 season. Across 54 first-class matches, he has scored more than 2,000 runs at an average of 31.75 while picking up 188 wickets at 27.30.His rise has been driven by consistency rather than headline-grabbing performances. Jain played a pivotal role in Madhya Pradesh's maiden Ranji Trophy triumph in 2022, before enjoying back-to-back outstanding domestic seasons that earned him the Lala Amarnath Award as the country's best all-rounder. He also finished as the Player of the Series in the 2025 Duleep Trophy after taking 16 wickets to guide Central Zone to the title.Behind those numbers lies a story of resilience. During his early years in domestic cricket, Jain's father, former Madhya Pradesh cricketer Subodh Jain, underwent cancer surgery while his son was on tour in Australia. Unable to speak after the operation, he wrote Saransh a handwritten note urging him to stay focused on cricket. Jain has preserved that note throughout his career, drawing inspiration from it during his long wait for an India call-up.If selected in Galle, Jain will become India's first specialist off-spinner to make his Test debut since Washington Sundar in 2021. After years of knocking on the door, the experienced all-rounder now has the chance to justify the faith of the selectors — and of Ashwin, who believes he has everything needed to succeed at the highest level.India Test squad vs Sri Lanka: 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. Washington Sundar has also been included, subject to fitness clearance.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Jul 29, 2026 09:38 IST