Saransh Jain's Journey to Team India: A Dream Realized at 33

Saransh Jain's Selection for Sri Lanka Test Tour

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 30: Saransh Jain, an all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh, has received his first call-up to the Indian cricket team for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The 33-year-old expressed his unwavering belief in his potential, stating that for him, "age is merely a number."

His inclusion in the squad comes after Washington Sundar was sidelined due to a hamstring injury ahead of the first Test.

As a left-handed batsman and off-spinner, Saransh has accumulated 2,223 runs at an average of 31.75 and taken 188 wickets at an average of 27.30 across 54 first-class matches. He has also participated in 67 List A and T20 matches, but his strength lies in red-ball cricket.

During an interview on JioStar, Saransh shared the moment he learned of his selection. He was en route to a temple when he checked his phone and found numerous missed calls and messages. A friend congratulated him, prompting his surprise at the early morning announcement.

"I was driving to the temple when I saw around 10 to 12 missed calls. A friend called to congratulate me, and I asked, 'For what?' He said, 'The announcement...' I was shocked and replied, 'Does the official team announcement happen this early?" he recounted.

After confirming the news, Saransh described the overwhelming joy he felt, calling it the result of 26 years of dedication and hard work. Upon returning home, he found his family emotional and proud of his achievement.

He emphasized that his selection was a collective dream for his family, built on years of sacrifices in a cricket-loving nation where many aspire to don the national colors. He credited his family for supporting him throughout his journey.

"It was a shared dream for all of us, built on family sacrifices. Making it to the Indian squad is no small feat among millions, so their support was crucial. There were challenging times, but my family stood by me, and because of them, I am here today. My lifelong dream was to play Test cricket for India, and now that it has come true, I am incredibly happy," he stated.

Regarding his selection at 33, he remarked, "Age is just a number. The standards of fielding today are so high that age doesn't matter on the field. I was confident that if I didn't make it this time, I would have had another chance in the next year or two, but I always believed I would succeed."

Reflecting on his early cricketing days, Saransh recalled playing tennis ball cricket with his father and brother before transitioning to leather ball cricket at various age levels.

He made his senior debut in the 2014-15 season, taking five wickets in his first match against Tamil Nadu, which featured seasoned players like Dinesh Karthik. This experience taught him that with hard work and discipline, cricket could be manageable.

"From that moment, I realized that to play at a higher level, I needed to focus on what I could control. I have maintained that focus, and now I represent India. Consistency has always been my strength, allowing me to hit the same spot repeatedly, knowing that batsmen will eventually take risks to score," he explained.

Saransh's passion for cricket stems from his father, a former Ranji player, and he idolizes spin legends Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh.

He shared how he learned the art of spin by watching their bowling clips and had the opportunity to spend time with Harbhajan during a camp.

"I started playing cricket because of my father, who is my ultimate idol. Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin are my inspirations. While I haven't spoken to them much, I've learned a lot just by observing their techniques. During a camp at the Centre of Excellence, I gained valuable insights from Harbhajan," he said.

"Skill-wise, they told me I didn't need major adjustments due to my extensive match experience. However, one piece of advice from him resonated with me: 'You don't have to lose something to gain something; you must put in the work.' Those words motivate me whenever I push myself through hard work," he concluded.