Dhruv Jurel forces selectors to play him! Likely to feature as specialist batter in South Africa tests - Reports

Dhurv Jurel slammed twin centuries for India A in the second unofficial test against South Africa A.

Indian wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel has set the stage on fire with his performances in red-ball cricket. The right-hander is currently playing for India A in the second unofficial test against South Africa A and in both innings, he has proved his worth. 

Dhruv Jurel, in the first innings when India A were in a trouble, played a sublime innings and slammed a brilliant ton, bailing his team out of trouble. Not only this, he came up with another hundred in the second innings in a pressure situation, helping his team set a massive total. 

For India as well, Dhruv Jurel has been fantastic. He was in the XI for the last three tests that India played – one in England and two against the West Indies. He filled in the void left by Rishabh Pant, who missed these games due to the injury that he suffered in the fourth test against England.

India will now take on South Africa next in a two-match test series and with Rishabh Pant being back, there’s a common belief that Dhruv Jurel will have to make way for the test vice-captain as has been the case in the previous few series. 

Dhruv Jurel is likely to play as a specialist batter – BCCI source

However, as per the reports in PTI, it is learned that, after his performances for India A, Dhruv Jurel has changed the minds of selectors. The source close to the developments claimed that the keeper-batter is likely to play as a specialist batter and will replace Nitish Kumar Reddy in the XI. 

“Jurel is likely to play as a specialist batter. Ideally, there are two slots where he could be fitted in. One was Sai Sudharsan at No. 3 but he has a half-century in his last Test and the team management wants a settled No. 3. The other place is Nitish Kumar Reddy and he can’t be played ahead of Jurel, considering that his bowling won’t be required much in these Indian conditions,” a source close to BCCI said.

The reports also claimed that head coach Gautam Gambhir is also likely to give Jurel a longer run in the middle order considering that India will play with three spinners and two pace bowlers. It remains to be seen at what position he bats. The IND vs SA test series begins on November 14 in Kolkata.

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