Dhruv Jurel To Retain Place in India’s Test XI Despite Pant’s Return

Dhruv Jurel is set to retain his spot in India’s Test XI as assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed Pant is to return.

Dhruv Jurel is set to keep his place in India’s Test XI even with Rishabh Pant returning as wicketkeeper. Allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to make way for Pant, who returns after missing the two Tests against West Indies last month due to a fractured foot.

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed the development in a press conference two days before the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata.

Jurel, who replaced Pant during the West Indies series, impressed with his maiden Test century in Ahmedabad. That innings came during a purple patch, where he scored four hundreds in eight first-class innings, including twin centuries in India A’s second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bengaluru last week.

“I don’t think you can leave him out for this Test, is the short answer,” ten Doeschate said when asked about Jurel’s recent form. “But obviously, you can only pick 11 as well, so someone else will have to miss out. I think we’ve got a pretty good idea of the combination.”

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Ten Doeschate highlighted India’s balance, with three spin-bowling allrounders — Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel — giving the team flexibility to play an extra batter without weakening the bowling attack.

“Given the way Dhruv’s gone in the last six months, scoring two hundreds in Bangalore last week, he’s certain to play this week. Again, like what I mentioned about Washy [Washington Sundar], Axar [Patel], Jaddu [Ravindra Jadeja], for me, you’ve actually got three batters there. So it does give us a lot of flexibility. But I’d be very surprised if we don’t see Dhruv and Rishabh playing in this Test this week,” he said.

India used three allrounders — Jadeja, Washington, and Reddy — in the West Indies series. However, Reddy had limited involvement, batting only once and bowling four overs. The management had stated they viewed Reddy as a long-term seam-bowling allrounder and wanted to give him more game time, even in home Tests. But against South Africa, the current World Test Championship holders, India may not have room to experiment.

“The primary thing is to set out a strategy to win the game, and then if you can accommodate giving guys a chance for development, that comes in,” ten Doeschate explained. “Our position certainly hasn’t changed on Nitish. He didn’t get much game time in [the white-ball series in] Australia, but I would say, given the importance of the series and given the conditions we think we’re going to face, he might miss out in this Test this week.”

South Africa arrive in India after a 1-1 series draw in Pakistan, where their spin trio — Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy — claimed 33 wickets in two Tests, each averaging below 22. Ten Doeschate acknowledged the challenge they pose and said India’s batters were focused on improving against spin following last year’s 3-0 home-series defeat to New Zealand.

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“Most likely they’ll play three [spinners], and it’s a little bit like playing against a subcontinent team. You normally worry about the pace attack first [when you face South Africa]. And I’m pretty sure they’ll go with two seamers and three […] spinners.

“But that is also the challenge when you’re playing in the subcontinent. It’s something as a team that we need to get better [at]. We addressed it early on. We’ve come up short a few times, so it’s a great challenge. Hopefully we’ve learned from the New Zealand series. We’ve put some plans into place [about] how to play the spin. And you’re right, it’s going to be so important over these two games, particularly how well they did in Pakistan about four weeks ago.”