India are all set to begin their two-Test series against Sri Lanka, but ahead of the opening match, it is the selection of Saransh Jain that has generated the biggest talking point among fans and cricket experts. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder has earned his maiden Test call-up at the age of 33, proving that Indian cricket still values sustained domestic excellence over instant fame.
Jain was drafted into the squad as an injury replacement for Washington Sundar, and his remarkable journey has quickly become one of the biggest stories surrounding the tour. His selection gathered further momentum after a stellar India ‘A’ tour of Sri Lanka, where he produced an unbeaten 70 and claimed a sensational six-wicket haul in Galle—the very venue that will host the opening Test. With expectations rising, former India opener Wasim Jaffer has now explained why he believes Jain is actually a better bowler than Sundar.
Wasim Jaffer backs Saransh Jain over Washington Sundar as specialist spinner
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffer expressed complete confidence in the selectors’ decision and highlighted why Jain could prove to be an ideal choice for Sri Lankan conditions. According to the former India batter, Sri Lanka’s batting order features several left-handed players, making the role of a genuine off-spinner even more significant. While acknowledging that Sundar remains the stronger batter, Jaffer insisted Jain offers greater quality with the ball.
“Sri Lanka have quite a few left-handers, so you need a genuine off-spinner. Washington Sundar is not fit, but I think he (Saransh Jain) is a better bowler than Sundar. Washington may be the better batter, but as a bowler, Saransh has real quality. I’m also happy that the selectors looked beyond his age and picked him purely on merit,” Jaffer said.
He further praised Jain’s consistency in domestic cricket, describing him as a traditional red-ball spinner who thrives on discipline rather than extravagant variations.
“This guy has been performing consistently in domestic cricket, especially in red-ball cricket. He’s a workman-like cricketer who comes in and does his job consistently in the longer format. He’s a bit of an old-school spinner. You won’t see too many variations from him, but he has the consistency to keep hitting the same spot. His seam presentation is excellent, something we’ve seen from bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh. So, I think it’s a good selection,” he added.
Expectations high from the domestic star ahead of potential Test debut
Jain heads into the Sri Lanka series carrying an outstanding domestic record that has been built over several seasons of consistent performances for Madhya Pradesh. Regarded as one of the country’s finest red-ball all-rounders, he has earned recognition through his ability to deliver both with the ball and lower down the batting order.
In 54 First-Class matches, Jain has claimed an impressive 188 wickets while also contributing 2,223 runs, underlining his value as a dependable all-round package. His ability to bowl long, accurate spells and chip in with crucial runs has made him a vital member of Madhya Pradesh’s Ranji Trophy setup. His recent India ‘A’ performances in Sri Lanka further strengthened his case for national selection, particularly his unbeaten 70 and six-wicket haul in Galle, which demonstrated his comfort in subcontinental conditions.
With Sundar sidelined through injury, Jain now has a golden opportunity to translate years of domestic success onto the international stage. If he manages to impress in Sri Lanka, the experienced all-rounder could establish himself as a reliable red-ball option for India and justify the faith shown by the selectors.
