33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain earned his maiden India Test call-up on Tuesday (July 28). Jain, who has played 54 first-class matches so far, was named in India’s 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
His selection came as a surprise to many, as he has never played in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has become a stepping stone for players to earn international call-ups in recent years.
Saransh, who has scored 2,223 runs and taken 188 wickets in first-class cricket, thanked the selectors for rewarding his consistent performances in domestic cricket. He said his selection proves that the IPL is not the only pathway to representing India.
“My selection shows that the IPL alone is not the yardstick
for making the cut. It is proof of the hard work I have put into domestic cricket. I would like to thank the selectors for showing faith in me,” Jain was quoted as saying by The Times of India after earning his maiden India Test call-up.
Recalling the moment he learned about his selection, Saransh said he found out only after returning from the Hanuman Temple in Indore, where he discovered that his phone was flooded with missed calls and congratulatory messages.
“After returning from the temple, my phone was inundated with messages and missed calls. I realised that I was selected in the Indian Test squad for next month’s Sri Lanka tour,” Saransh said.
Jain earned his maiden India call-up after Washington Sundar was ruled out with an injury. However, he believes he had done enough to deserve a place in the squad. He highlighted his performances for India A in the recently concluded two-match series against Sri Lanka A, where he claimed six wickets and scored an unbeaten 70, saying the all-round display boosted his confidence.
“The just-concluded India A tour of Sri Lanka, where I picked up six wickets and scored an unbeaten 70, instilled confidence. Two years back, the six-for against Mumbai in the Irani Trophy was another important milestone,” he said.
Saransh’s father, Subodh Jain, is also a former first-class cricketer who played nine matches for Madhya Pradesh in the 1990s. According to Saransh, his father has been his biggest inspiration and the reason he took up cricket.
He also recalled his father’s advice, who always encouraged him to bowl like the best off-spinner and bat like a proper No. 4.
“My father (Subodh Jain) is my hero. He was the reason why I became a cricketer,” he said.
