In September 2016 he was added to India's Test squad for their series against New Zealand.

He played for India against New Zealand at Vizag and took his first ODI wicket (Corey Anderson) in same match. He got his ODI cap from Virender Sehwag. Three weeks later, he made his Test debut for India against England at the same venue. He took his first wicket in his first test innings dismissing Moeen Ali on 1 run via Umpire Decision Review System. He became the 286th player to play Test cricket for India.^[6] Yadav played 42 first-class matches and picked up 117 wickets before he made his Test debut for India^[6]

Jayant Yadav is proving himself as a useful batsman besides specialist bowler for the team. In the first 3 test that Jayant has played, he has scored one century and one-half century and as has an average of over 73. He became the first batsman for India to score a century after coming at number 9. His partnership with Virat Kohli of 241 runs for 8th wicket is the second best in the world.

In October 2016, Anirudh Chaudhry revealed the role of Jyoti Yadav, Jayant’s second mother. His real mother was a woman by the name of Lakshmi, who died in a plane crash 17 years ago. Jyoti Yadav nurtured and brought Jayant up as her own son, helping Jayant in every which way possible as he went in pursuit of becoming a top-flight cricketer.^[7]

Jayant is nephew of Yogendra Yadav, famous politician and psephologist.^[8]

Test centuries