India are all set to play with both Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant in the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens. Although they are fighting for the same spot, Gautam Gambhir has reportedly replaced Jurel citing Nitish Kumar Reddy’s position in the team.
Rishabh Pant could not play in the Test series against West Indies at home as he was recovering from the injury suffered in England. Dhruv Jurel, who was included in the Indian XI for the tour, scored a brilliant century in the very first innings.
Both of them were part of the India A squad for the tour against South Africa A. Rishabh Pant was announced as the captain of India A team and he led the team to victory in the first game against the South African team.
Dhruv Jurel is showing great form
Since the start of the domestic season, Dhruv Jurel’s scoring sequence has shown some promising performances from the Indian wicketkeeper batsman. he has scored 140, 1 and 56, 125, 44 and 6, 132 and 127 not out.
With four centuries, including one international century and 40-plus scores in his last eight first-class games, Jurel could not be ignored by the Indian selectors as well as the Indian head coach. Dhruv Jurel can be sorted by number. 3; However, Sai Sudarshan scored a half-century in his last Test match.
“Jurel is likely to play as a specialist batsman. Ideally, there are two positions where he can be fitted. One was Sai Sudarshan at No. 3, but he has a half-century in his last Test and the team management wants a definite No. 3,” a BCCI source with knowledge of selection developments told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Nitish Kumar Reddy will be dropped from Test XI
Nitish Kumar Reddy was given only a few overs during the West Indies series, indicating his limited requirement in Indian conditions. There has been no report yet on the return of this all-rounder from the injury, who was suffering from neck spasm before the Australia T20 series.
It is understood that Reddy is part of the Indian squad but he may be left out of the playing eleven despite Gautam Gambhir’s desire to play the number one batsman. 8. While they will be looking to play with their three spinners, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, there will be two more fast bowlers in the team.
He said, “In the second place is Nitish Kumar Reddy and he cannot be played ahead of Jurel because his bowling will not be needed much in these Indian conditions.”
Rishabh Pant returns as India’s vice-captain
Rishabh Pant has once again been made the vice-captain of the team. In his absence, Ravindra Jadeja was made the vice-captain of the Test team in the West Indies series.
Pant will play with another specialist keeper in the team, Dhruv Jurel.
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