India’s Test team is on the brink of a tricky decision as the two-match home series against South Africa approaches. With just a four days to go for the first Test in Kolkata, the return of Rishabh Pant and the rise of Dhruv Jurel have left captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir juggling combinations.
Pant’s comeback was always a no-brainer. As vice-captain and an automatic starter, he walks back into the XI. But the problem isn’t Pant, but it’s fitting in Jurel, who has done almost everything right since his debut. His run of consistent performances, including hundreds for India and India A, has made him difficult to ignore. He stepped in terrifically after Pant was unavailable post his injury in England. Now, if dropped, it would be an injustice to Jurel, who is in tremendous form.
Aakash Chopra calls for ‘space’ for Jurel
Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes the solution lies in making a hard call between Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that India should “find space” for Jurel even if it means sacrificing one of the two young batters.
“Both Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant are there in the squad. Pant is vice-captain, he will and should play. But I feel Jurel should also play,” Chopra said. “A place should be created for him in the XI. The question will be whether you will compromise Sai Sudharsan from the top or Nitish Kumar Reddy from lower in the order.”
Chopra backed Sudharsan to retain his No. 3 position and suggested that Reddy could be the one to make way. “I think Sai Sudharsan should be allowed to play at No. 3. You haven’t given Nitish Kumar Reddy a proper role with the ball so far. So you can actually sacrifice him and keep Dhruv Jurel there,” he added.
Dhruv Jurel needs to play in IND vs SA 1st Test
Chopra’s backing is based on what recent numbers have been suggesting. Jurel’s batting has been among India’s few consistent stories in red-ball cricket this season. He struck 125 against the West Indies in October and followed it with an unbeaten 132 for India A against South Africa A. Jurel’s home‑season scores so far read 140, 1 & 56, 125, 44 & 6, 132, and 127 not out. Across his last eight first‑class innings he has three hundreds (including a Test century), one half‑century and a 40‑plus knock, making his selection a deserving one.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, meanwhile, also deserves to play as he has done nothing wrong. However, the management and captain haven’t used him well. In the previous Test series, the 21-year-old bowled just four overs in two matches, hardly enough to influence the game with the ball. His batting, too, hasn’t yielded much to keep Jurel out on merit.
The post ‘Find space for Dhruv Jurel’: Aakash Chopra calls for tough call between Sai Sudharsan & Nitish Reddy appeared first on Inside Sport India.