Saransh Jain Creates History On India Debut, Breaks 26-Year-Old Record

Veteran all-rounder Saransh Jain received his India Test cap ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday. The cap was presented to him by fellow all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh cricketer etched his name in the record books by becoming India’s oldest Test debutant in the 21st century. At 33 years and 145 days, Saransh surpassed former wicketkeeper Saba Karim, who made his Test debut at 32 years and 362 days against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2000.

Apart from being the 320th men’s Test player for India, Saransh has also became the fifth player from Indore to play for the country in the red-ball format after Narendra Hirwani, Rajesh Chauhan, Naman Ojha, and Rajat Patidar. 

Saransh is also the oldest India player to play Tests after turning 33 since Robin Singh did so in 1998.

A hamstring injury to off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar during India’s ODI tour of England opened the door for his inclusion in the squad on the trip to Sri Lanka.

Saransh, 33, boasts of an impressive domestic record, having featured in 54 First-Class matches, scoring 2,223 runs at an average of 31.75 while picking up 188 wickets at an average of 27.30.

Saransh had also made a strong mark during the India ‘A’ tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year, where he had a standout performance of hitting an unbeaten 70 with the bat and picking a six-wicket haul. With his debut, Saransh becomes the first off-spinner to make his Test debut for India since Sundar in January 2021.

Despite being on the national radar in red-ball cricket, Saransh has surprisingly never been picked by an IPL franchise. He registered himself in the IPL 2024, 2025, and 2026 auctions, but failed to attract a single bid. Even after making the final shortlist in last year’s auction, he went unsold.

(With IANS Inputs)

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