Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain recently received his maiden Test call-up for the two-match series against Sri Lanka. Jain, who replaced injured Washington Sundar in the squad, revealed where he was and how he learnt about his selection when the squad was announced by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel.
Jain said he was driving from one temple to the other when a cricketing friend of his informed him about the selection.
“I was at a temple in the morning where I always go. When I was going to another temple from there, I saw my phone while driving, and there were 10-12 missed calls and messages. I picked up my friend’s call, who also plays cricket. He congratulated me. I asked him what for. I told him the squad wouldn’t be announced (officially) in the morning. But he told me it was. I stopped the car on the side and saw that the squad was actually announced,” Saransh Jain said in an exclusive interview with Star Sports.
The 33-year-old added that the hard work of almost 26 years has paid dividends for him after he received his maiden Test call-up.
“It is hard work and discipline of 26 years. When I went back home, my father, brother, wife, mother, and everyone were emotional. It was a common dream for all, and everybody had made sacrifices. It is not easy to be picked in a 15-member squad in India. Family support is very important. There were many times when I could have broken down, but they supported me and managed things.”
Meanwhile, it has been mostly noticed that selectors hardly give opportunities to players who are above 30 years of age, especially for a maiden call-up. However, Jain reckons age is just a number for him and said his dream was to always play Test cricket for India.“My dream was also to play Test cricket for India right from the start. I like red-ball cricket anyway. I am very happy, as the patience needed in red-ball cricket comes with experience match by match. Age is just a number. If you are fit, it does not look like you are old. 33 is just a number. If not now, in the next one or two years, I would definitely play for India,” he said.
The first Test match between India and Sri Lanka will be played at Galle from August 15 onwards.
