India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test: Why Is Kuldeep Yadav Not Playing? Saransh Jain Makes Debut
Kuldeep Yadav was ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo after failing to recover from a viral illness.
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Team India has brought in Saransh Jain into the Playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on August 23, 2026. The match is the second and final game of a two-match Test series between the two sides.
India won the first Test in Galle by 165 runs, taking a 1-0 series lead. The two-match series in Sri Lanka is India's first in the World Test Championship cycle since a 2-0 home defeat to South Africa in November. Heading into the second Test, India were fifth in the WTC standings and Sri Lanka were sixth.
Why is Kuldeep Yadav not playing the second Test?
The BCCI confirmed in an official update that Kuldeep Yadav had not fully recovered from a viral illness and was therefore unavailable for selection in the Playing XI. India captain Shubman Gill also confirmed Kuldeep's absence at the toss, where he opted to bat first.
The BCCI's official statement read:
"Mr Kuldeep Yadav has not fully recovered from his viral illness. He was unavailable for selection in the Playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka. However, he can take the field as a concussion substitute, if required."
Kuldeep, a left-arm wrist-spinner, had a difficult outing in the first Test at Galle. He bowled 25 overs, conceded 103 runs and claimed just one wicket across both innings, taking one in the first innings and none in the second. In contrast, debutant Manav Suthar took a 10-wicket haul in Galle, while Ravindra Jadeja picked up four wickets.
Saransh Jain makes his debut
Saransh Jain received his India Test cap from Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the match. Jain was born on March 31, 1993, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He is 33 years old and is a right-arm off-spinner and left-handed batter.
Jain made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh in the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy on December 21, 2014. He has since accumulated 188 wickets in 54 first-class matches at an average of 27.30, along with 2,223 runs, including two centuries and 14 half-centuries.
Beyond Madhya Pradesh, Jain has represented Central Zone, Rest of India and India A. He was impressive on the recent India A tour to Sri Lanka, where he scored an unbeaten 70 and picked up six wickets in the second four-day game, performances that strengthened his case for a senior call-up.
India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Playing XIs
India Playing XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Sri Lanka Playing XI:
Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando
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