Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has made a strong case for inclusion in India’s playing XI for the upcoming Test series against South Africa, starting November 14 in Kolkata. Jurel’s sensational run in the ongoing unofficial Test series for India A against South Africa A in Bengaluru, where he scored centuries in both innings, has intensified the selection debate.His twin tons, 132* and 127*, made him only the second Indian after Naman Ojha (2014) to achieve the feat in an ‘A’ Test match. Chopra, speaking on his YouTube channel, said Jurel deserves a place in the XI but not at the expense of Rishabh Pant. “The team has been selected and both Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant are there. Rishabh Pant will play. Rishabh Pant is the vice-captain. So he is going to play and he should play. He is a generational talent if you talk about Test cricket, but I feel Dhruv Jurel should also be played. A place should be created for him in the XI,” Chopra said. The former batter suggested that the team management could consider altering the middle order to accommodate Jurel. “The question will be whether you will compromise Sai Sudharsan from the top or Nitish Kumar Reddy from below. I think Sai Sudharsan should be allowed to play at No. 3. You haven’t got Nitish Kumar Reddy to do his job properly thus far. So you can actually sacrifice him and keep Dhruv Jurel there,” he added.
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Should Dhruv Jurel be included in the playing XI for the Test series against South Africa?
Backing the young wicketkeeper, Ravichandran Ashwin also praised Jurel’s recent performances on social media, writing, “Dhruv Jurel is making it very hard for the coach and captain to drop him from the Test match coming up. 100s in both innings of the unofficial test against SA A’.” Jurel’s form has not only boosted his individual credentials but also given India a welcome selection dilemma ahead of the South Africa series.
