East India Captain and present Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) chairman, Sourav GangulyHas completely focused on competing for the No. 3 batting spot in the Indian Test team ahead of the two-match series against South Africa starting on November 14 in Kolkata. The debate has been fueled by the return of Rishabh Pant and the shining form of Dhruv JurelWho traditionally act as wicketkeeper-batsmen.
IND vs SA: Sourav Ganguly picks Dhruv Jurel and Sai Sudarshan for No. 3 batting role
Ganguly publicly supports Jurel’s ongoing case, increasing pressure on the incumbent Sai SudarshanGanguly acknowledged the difficulty of breaking down India’s established batting order, but suggested that he should be included as a specialist batsman, possibly at the No. 3 position, due to Jurel’s recent runs, which has since been untenable. Cheteshwar PujaraRetirement of.
“He is playing well, isn’t he? Rishabh is back and I don’t know what the selectors are thinking. Basically, the positions have been taken – two openers, (Shubman) Gill at number four, Pant at number five, KL (Rahul), (Ravindra) Jadeja. The players have performed. How easy it will be to open a slot for Dhruv Jurel at this stage, I don’t know. But it depends on whether they are at number 3. Who do you want to send – do they want to go with Sai Sudarshan, or bring in our in-form Dhruv, we will find out. RevSportz quoted Ganguly as saying.
immediate focus of ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 The bicycle is transferred to India, where Shubman GillThe team is ready to host South Africa In an important two-match test series. The competition, known as the Freedom Trophy, will begin on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata and will continue till November 18.
This first Test promises to be a high-voltage clash as India, who are currently placed third in the WTC table, attempt to take advantage of their strong home record against current World Test Championship title holders South Africa, who are placed fourth. The action then moves to the northeast for the second and final Test, which will begin on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati and conclude on November 26.
Also read: IND vs SA: 5 South African players who can trouble India in the upcoming test series
Dhruv Jurel’s tremendous form has put pressure on Sai Sudarshan
Jurel has been in great form recently, scoring centuries in both innings of the second unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A in Bengaluru last week, where he recorded scores of 132 and 127. This remarkable consistency builds on his previous success, as he impressed during the Test series against the West Indies earlier this year, scoring 175 runs at an average of 87.50 in three innings, including a century. This incredible run, which includes four centuries in his last five red-ball appearances, is forcing the team management to consider Pant for the role of a specialist batsman, regardless of his comeback.
On the contrary, the pressure on Sudarshan, who is auditioning for the crucial No. 3 slot, has increased due to his struggles in the recent India A games. Whereas Sudarshan has got the support of the captain, head coach and team management and he has scored the highest score of his Test career, 87 runs. west indiesHis form has declined in recent outings. He failed to cross the fifty-run mark against South Africa A, scoring only 84 runs in four innings of the two unofficial Tests. His struggles to convert starts in these important “A” matches, including low scores of 17 and 23 in the Second Test, have made his position at the top of the batting order extremely tenuous for the in-form Jurel ahead of the decisive series against South Africa.
Also read: Suresh Raina named the players who performed best for India in the Test series against South Africa.