Saransh Jain debuts as India bat first vs Sri Lanka in 2nd Test at SSC
Synopsis
Kuldeep Yadav's absence through infection hands Indore's Saransh Jain an unexpected Test debut at SSC Colombo, with India — already 1-0 up — opting to bat first on a surface Shubman Gill rated as harder and better than Galle. Sri Lanka also field two debutants, making this a landmark match for five players across both sides.
Key Takeaways
Saransh Jain , an off-spin bowling all-rounder from Indore , received his Test debut cap from Ravindra Jadeja on 23 August in Colombo .
Kuldeep Yadav misses the 2nd Test at SSC due to an infection.
India won the toss for the second consecutive time and elected to bat first, holding a 1-0 series lead after a 165-run win in Galle .
Sri Lanka debutants Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara feature in the home side's XI.
Captain Shubman Gill described the SSC surface as harder than Galle, expecting it to favour batting in the first two to three days.
Saransh Jain, the Indore-based off-spin bowling all-rounder, was handed his Test debut on 23 August as India won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo. Jain replaces Kuldeep Yadav, who has been ruled out of the second and final Test due to an infection.
Key Changes to India's Playing XI
India captain Shubman Gill, winning the toss for the second consecutive time in the series, confirmed that Kuldeep Yadav — the left-arm wrist-spinner who was instrumental in the first Test — has been sidelined by an infection. Saransh Jain received his debut cap in the team huddle from senior spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, a fitting passing of the torch between two spinning all-rounders.
India head into this match with a 1-0 series lead, having won the first Test in Galle by 165 runs.
What Shubman Gill Said
Reflecting on the pitch at SSC, Gill described it as a considerably different challenge from Galle. 'It looks like a much harder, much better surface compared to Galle. Galle was also a very good wicket, but I think as the game went on, it got a little bit slower and the ball started to turn. We're expecting the same, but I think for the first two or three days, it'll be a really good wicket to bat on,' he said.
Asked to rate India's performance in the first Test, Gill was candid. 'I would say probably a nine (out of ten for win in Galle), because there's always room for improvement... this is Test cricket. It's very, very difficult to be able to have a near-perfect game because you're playing for five days, and to play that dominant and consistent cricket, especially in Test, is hard.'
Sri Lanka's Debutants
Sri Lanka also ring in fresh faces for this match. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva confirmed that Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara are both making their Test debuts. Notably, Sooriyabandara had previously featured in Galle as a concussion substitute after Dinesh Chandimal suffered neck and shoulder injuries while fielding.
De Silva acknowledged the surface favours batting early but saw opportunity for his bowlers. 'I thought it's good for batting, and I don't mind it bowling because, cloud covers, maybe we can strike early and put them under pressure. When batting, not losing wickets early, keep the scoreboard ticking and get runs on the board,' he said.
Playing XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.
With India chasing a series whitewash and three debutants across both sides, the 2nd Test at SSC promises to be a defining contest before the series concludes.
Point of View
But Saransh Jain's selection reflects the team management's confidence in a like-for-like off-spin replacement rather than reshuffling the balance. The more intriguing subplot is Sri Lanka fielding two debutants at home while chasing a series leveller — a gamble that signals either fresh ambition or a thin bench. If the SSC surface does turn on days four and five as Gill expects, India's spin-heavy lineup could make a 2-0 whitewash a realistic outcome.
NationPress
23 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Saransh Jain playing instead of Kuldeep Yadav in the 2nd Test?
Kuldeep Yadav has been ruled out of the 2nd Test due to an infection, opening the door for Saransh Jain to earn his maiden Test cap. Jain, an off-spin bowling all-rounder from Indore, was named as the direct replacement in India's XI.
Who gave Saransh Jain his Test debut cap?
Ravindra Jadeja presented Saransh Jain with his debut cap during the team huddle ahead of the 2nd Test at SSC Colombo on 23 August.
What is India's series standing heading into the 2nd Test?
India lead the two-match series 1-0 after defeating Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at Galle. A win at SSC Colombo would complete a series whitewash.
Who are Sri Lanka's debutants in the 2nd Test at Colombo?
Sri Lanka have handed Test debuts to Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara. Sooriyabandara had previously appeared in Galle as a concussion substitute after Dinesh Chandimal was injured while fielding.
What did Shubman Gill say about the SSC pitch?
Gill described the SSC surface as harder and better than the Galle pitch, expecting it to be a good batting wicket for the first two to three days before potentially turning later in the match — similar to conditions at Galle.
