India will need to choose one between Saransh Jain and Manav Suthar in Galle. Image Credits: BCCI
India have four spinners in their Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour. They will likely field three in the opening game in Galle.
Two of them - Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav - look automatic picks. Even Manav Suthar is, more or less, confirmed to take the third spot after impressing on his debut Test against Afghanistan in June. However, India could have a compelling case to hand that spot to Saransh Jain instead.
Why India could opt for Saransh Jain as third spinner
| Bowler | Wickets | Average | Strike rate |
| Gurnoor Brar | 10 | 14.5 | 20.7 |
| Dilum Sadeera | 10 | 29.4 | 54.6 |
| Saransh Jain | 7 | 36.57 | 64.28 |
| Auqib Nabi | 6 | 25.33 | 47.66 |
| Yash Thakur | 5 | 22.6 | 52.8 |
The foremost reason to include Saransh Jain in the XI is the variety he can bring to India’s spin attack. Ravindra Jadeja is a left-arm finger spinner, while Kuldeep Yadav offers the rare left-arm wrist-spin option. Manav Suthar gives India another left-arm finger spinner, albeit with methods that differ from Jadeja’s.
Saransh, on the other hand, would give India an off-spinner and, in turn, three distinct types of spin in the XI. That variety could offer greater security against different batting combinations and allow India to attack from different angles. Crucially, Saransh is the only player in the squad who can provide that off-spin option.
Also Read: Saransh Jain Or Tanush Kotian? Did Indian Selectors Pick The Right All-Rounder For Sri Lanka?
That could be particularly useful in Galle, where off-spinners have enjoyed reasonable success in recent years, averaging 34.97 from the start of 2022. With some turn expected from the surface, Saransh Jain's natural ability to bowl with a loopy trajectory could also make him an effective threat. He also gets considerable dip off his bowling.
He also has recent experience of bowling in these conditions. During India A’s tour of Sri Lanka last month, Saransh was the third-highest wicket-taker, with both games played in Galle. He claimed seven wickets at an average of 36.57 across four innings, including a best of 4/92.
Manav, meanwhile, has yet to play at the venue, having not featured in either of the India A games in Galle. Saransh Jain, therefore, has the advantage of recent, hands-on experience of the conditions and could be better equipped to judge the ideal lengths required at the venue.
Left-handers in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka could have as many as three left-handers in their XI for the first Test. Niroshan Dickwella will return to the side following Kusal Mendis’ injury, while Kamindu Mendis and Sonal Dinusha are also expected to feature. That could make an off-spinner particularly valuable for India.
Saransh JAIN is the only spinner in the squad who can consistently turn the ball away from left-handers. Jadeja does not get the same degree of turn, while Manav Suthar, like Jadeja, generally turns the ball into the left-hander. Kuldeep Yadav can turn it away from them, but he does not specialise in attacking left-handers in the same way an off-spinner does.
Sri Lanka’s left-handers also have some vulnerability against off-spin. Kamindu, for instance, averages only 22.75 and plays a false shot on 25.64% of deliveries against off-spinners since the start of last year. Sonal has also been dismissed once in 39 balls against the bowling type, albeit from a relatively small sample.
Saransh’s value, however, is not limited to match-ups against left-handers. He has increasingly used the around-the-wicket angle against right-handers and has found considerable success in recent years. The angle brings the slip cordon and close-in fielders into play more often, with several wickets coming through catches in those areas.
Even against Sri Lanka A last month, six of Saransh Jain's 7 wickets came against right-handers. So, picking him would not mean India are compromising against right-handers. Rather, his inclusion would give India an additional option against left-handers, something they otherwise lack in the spin department.
Saransh’s batting value
| Batter | Innings | Runs | Average | 50s/100s |
| Saransh Jain | 85 | 2223 | 31.75 | 14/2 |
| Manav Suthar | 52 | 1071 | 26.12 | 6/1 |
When Washington Sundar plays, he generally contributes in both departments, but his batting value often outweighs his bowling value. There are times when he is good enough to be picked almost as a batter alone. India need to retain some of that additional batting value in Sri Lanka, and that could work in Saransh Jain’s favour.
There is little secret about this management’s preference for batting depth, even if it means going in with a slightly inferior all-rounder. On that basis, Saransh has a strong case over Manav Suthar.
Both can contribute with the bat, but Saransh’s record suggests he offers considerably more. He averages 31.75 in First Class cricket, with two centuries in 85 innings, compared to Suthar’s average of 28 and one century in 52 outings.
Both also made useful contributions in the warm-up game, strengthening their respective cases. Yet, Saransh Jain remains the better batter of the two and comes into the Test series with decent recent form. He made a fighting 70 in the second India A game against Sri Lanka A last month and had earlier produced a couple of useful knocks in the Madhya Pradesh League.
If he plays, India would therefore have another batting option, something that could prove valuable on turning tracks. Their struggles against spin are well documented, and after home defeats to South Africa and New Zealand, India are unlikely to compromise on batting depth.
There is another reason to look beyond the immediate series. Sundar’s fitness has been a concern at times, and India will need to manage his workload with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the horizon next year. That makes it important to develop a reliable backup with a similar skill set.
Saransh could be that option. He needs exposure at the highest level to develop as an off-spin all-rounder and give India another player capable of filling the role when Sundar is unavailable or needs to be rested. If workload management becomes a factor during the BGT, having Saransh ready could prove particularly valuable.
Manav Suthar might still get the nod in Galle, and there is a perfectly reasonable case for him after his impressive Test debut. But Saransh offers India something of his own: an off-spinner, greater batting depth and a potential long-term backup for Sundar. Taken together, those factors make a strong case for giving him a chance in the XI.
Also Read: Sri Lanka Squad vs India For 1st Test Announced; Dhananjaya de Silva To Lead
