Ravindra Jadeja Becomes First Indian Cricketer to Reach 50 WTC Matches
Ravindra Jadeja, a star Indian all-rounder, has become the first Indian cricketer to play 50 World Test Championship matches. The 37-year-old all-rounder from Jamnagar reached a milestone when he appeared for India in the second Test against Sri Lanka on August 23, 2026, at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
The achievement puts Jadeja ahead of all other Indian players in terms of WTC appearances, demonstrating his consistent presence in the Test team across numerous championship cycles. No other Indian cricketer has played as many matches since the WTC format was introduced.
The second Test marks the conclusion of a two-match series. India began the match with a 1-0 lead, having defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at Galle. Shubman Gill’s team won the toss and decided to bat first in Colombo.
How do Jadeja’s Test career numbers look at this point?
Jadeja brings a strong all-around record to his 50th WTC participation. During his illustrious Test career, he scored 4117 runs with the bat, including a best score of 175* and six centuries. With the ball, he has 352 wickets, the best of which is 7/42, and 49 field catches.
These figures clearly demonstrate why he has been a constant choice for India in the longest format. His ability to contribute substantially with the bat, ball and on the pitch has made him impossible to leave out of subsequent WTC cycles.
What other selection changes did India make for the Colombo Test?
India made one alteration to the winning XI in Galle. Saransh Jain made his Test debut, replacing Kuldeep Yadav who was ruled out with an infection. During the team huddle, Jadeja surprised Jain by presenting him with his India debut cap.
