Colombo, Aug 23 (IANS) Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was ruled out of India's playing eleven for the second Test against Sri Lanka as he continues his recovery from a viral illness, said the BCCI. In Kuldeep’s absence, Madhya Pradesh off-spin bowling all-rounder Saransh Jain was handed his maiden Test cap.

"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," the BCCI stated in an official statement on Sunday.

Saransh was handed his Test cap in the team huddle prior to the toss, where India elected to bat first at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground. A hamstring injury to off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar during India's ODI tour of England opened the door for his inclusion in the squad on the trip to Sri Lanka.

Saransh, 33, boasts of an impressive domestic record, having featured in 54 First-Class matches, scoring 2,223 runs at an average of 31.75 while picking up 188 wickets at an average of 27.30.

Saransh had also made a strong mark during the India 'A' tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year, where he had a standout performance of hitting an unbeaten 70 with the bat and picking a six-wicket haul. With his debut, Saransh becomes the first off-spinner to make his Test debut for India since Sundar in January 2021.

Apart from being the 320th men’s Test player for India, Saransh has also become the fifth player from Indore to play for the country in the red-ball format after Narendra Hirwani, Rajesh Chauhan, Naman Ojha, and Rajat Patidar. Jain is also the oldest India player to play Tests after turning 33 since Robin Singh did so in 1998.

--IANS

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