The recently concluded India A vs England Lions two-game unofficial Test series was a decent precursor to the all-important five-game Anderson-Tendulkar rubber. There have been major takeaways from the two domestic games. The Shardul Thakur vs Nitish Reddy dilemma, Karun Nair’s form, KL Rahul’s superb ton and the lack of match practice for the main squad Indian bowlers have taken centre stage. Amidst all this, a quiet Dhruv Jurel has made a strong case for himself!
Cricket 46 seconds Ruturaj Gaikwad to play for Yorkshire in County Championship during IND vs ENG Test seriesDhruv Jurel, not just a backup option to Pant
Jurel’s blazing form means he can’t be looked just as a backup to Rishabh Pant. Shubman Gill needs to accommodate the man-in-form in the playing XI alongside Pant for the first Test against England at Headingley on June 20. It’s not a straightforward decision. Jurel is a wicketkeeper-batter by trade, and with Pant returning to full fitness and now appointed Test vice-captain, his spot in the XI is non-negotiable.
But Jurel’s sheer weight of runs, including three consecutive fifties on the India A tour of England (94, 53*, and 52), has ensured he cannot be ignored either. More importantly, he’s doing what any smart cricketer in Pant’s shadow must do: make a case as a pure batter.
And Jurel has done it convincingly. On the seaming tracks against the England Lions, he has not only scored runs but has done so with technique and urgency. His strike rate of 75.67 was the best among batters with at least 200 runs. These attributes stand out in English conditions. His 94 off 120 balls at Canterbury came when a great partnership between Sarfaraz Khan and Nair was broken. Then, Jurel stitched a 195-run stand with Nair. In the second innings, his unbeaten 53 came at a run-a-ball. His recent 52 at Northampton was once again a reminder of his tremendous form.
Cricket 46 seconds Dhruv Jurel’s third consecutive bound to give sleepless nights to Team India managementHow can Gill accommodate Jurel?
The question now is, how does India accommodate both Pant and Jurel in the XI?
One option being explored by the team management is to play Jurel as a specialist batter at No. 6. This is not unprecedented, as India have previously used a specialist batter at that position, especially during away tours where batting depth was prioritised. Hanuma Vihari’s example comes to mind straightaway.
With Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7 and Shardul Thakur adding lower-order resistance at No. 8, India may still maintain a balanced combination even with Jurel slotted in. However, Jurel’s inclusion does mean that one of Sai Sudharsan or Karun Nair will have to wait for their opportunity. Given that Nair recently smashed a double century for India A and has Test experience, including a triple hundred, he is likely to get the nod. That makes Sudharsan the likely casualty for now.
India’s Playing XI if Jurel plays
KL Rahul Yashasvi Jaiswal Karun Nair Shubman Gill (C) Rishabh Pant (wk) Dhruv Jurel Ravindra Jadeja Shardul Thakur Jasprit Bumrah Mohammed Siraj Prasidh Krishna/Akash DeepIn his first three Test appearances for India, Jurel amassed 190 runs across four innings, boasting an impressive average of 63.33, with a top score of 90. His 90 against England in Rajkot was worth more than their weight in gold because the hosts were 177/7 at one point. From there on, Jurel single-handedly took the total to 307.
Ultimately, it comes down to whether India wants to reward form or stick with structure. Jurel’s recent performances make a compelling case, as he’s averaging over 75 on this tour and has delivered in Australia (for the A side) and at home.
How Shubman Gill can include in-form Dhruv Jurel in India’s Playing XI for 1st Test vs England Inside Sport India.
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