Two days before the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka, Saransh Jain spent a considerable amount of time in the nets at Colombo on August 21, 2026, working through
his off-spin deliveries in what was a closely watched session. Kuldeep Yadav, who featured in the playing eleven at Galle, was not present at the ground during the practice.
Footage from the session, shared on Instagram, showed Jain in extended conversation with spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The 33-year-old Indore-born cricketer plays domestic red-ball cricket for Madhya Pradesh and received his maiden Test squad call-up for this two-match series in Sri Lanka, marking his first-ever international selection.
Jain made his First-Class debut for Madhya Pradesh in December 2014 and has since appeared in 54 First-Class matches, claiming 188 wickets at an average of 27.3. With the bat, he has accumulated 2,223 runs at an average of 31.75, including two centuries and 14 fifties. As a right-arm off-spinner, Jain turns the ball away from left-handers and into right-handers, which is the opposite direction to both Jadeja and Manav Suthar. His father, Subodh Jain, was a right-arm off-break bowler who played nine Ranji Trophy matches for Madhya Pradesh without earning an international call-up.
Kuldeep had a difficult outing in the Galle Test. He returned figures of 25-0-103-1 across both innings on a pitch that offered significant assistance to spinners. Suthar, by contrast, claimed 10 wickets in the match and was the standout performer as India won by 165 runs to take a 1-0 series lead. Devdutt Padikkal contributed 167 in the first innings.
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The reason for Kuldeep's absence from the August 21 session has not been confirmed by any official source. No statement from the team management or medical staff has been issued to clarify whether the absence was due to rest, a management decision or any other factor.
There are several former cricketers who have backed Kuldeep to play the second Test like Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Prasad, among others.
