Saransh Jain joins rare club after Test debut against Sri Lanka, Only 2 have done before him

Saransh Jain’s long wait for an India debut finally ended on Sunday as the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder was handed his maiden Test cap for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Jain has come in as a replacement for Kuldeep Yadav, who is said to be still recovering from a viral fever. And as the 33-year-old becomes the latest to get the India cap, beyond the personal milestone, Jain has entered a particularly exclusive club in Indian cricket.

By making his India debut without having played an IPL match, the 33-year-old has become only the third Indian player since the IPL began to make his international debut before appearing in the T20 league. He joins Murali Vijay and Mohammed Shami in this rare list.

Murali Vijay was the first to achieve the feat. He made his Test debut for India against Australia in Nagpur in November 2008, before making his IPL debut. Mohammed Shami followed in 2013, making his ODI debut against Pakistan before subsequently featuring in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Jain now becomes the latest name to follow that unconventional route to the international stage. His selection is also a reflection of the value of sustained performances in India’s domestic circuit, particularly in an era when the IPL has become one of the biggest pathways to national selection.

The right-arm off-spinner and left-handed batter has built an impressive first-class record for Madhya Pradesh. Before his India debut, Jain had played 54 first-class matches, scoring 2,223 runs and taking 188 wickets. His performances in domestic cricket and for India A eventually earned him a place in the national squad.

Jain was initially called up as a replacement for Washington Sundar after the latter suffered an injury. He then replaced Kuldeep Yadav in India’s playing XI for the Colombo Test.

Saransh Jain becomes India’s Oldest Debutant in 21st Century

His debut also carries another remarkable distinction – at 33 years and 145 days, Jain has become India’s oldest Test debutant in the 21st century.

For a player who has never stepped onto an IPL field, Jain’s arrival in Test cricket is a powerful reminder that India’s domestic game can still provide a direct route to the highest level.