Post by : Maya Rahman

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed his belief that young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel should be selected for India’s Test squad for the upcoming series against South Africa, indicating his place should focus solely on batting rather than wicketkeeping. Ganguly highlighted that the first Test is set to occur at Eden Gardens, emphasizing the significance of Jurel’s recent performance, despite the anticipated return of first-choice wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

Rishabh Pant, who has been sidelined with a foot fracture, is gearing up to return for the series. Ganguly recognized that Pant's comeback adds complexity to the selection process, given that most batting spots are already filled. “He’s been performing well, hasn’t he? With Rishabh back, I’m unsure how the selectors will approach this,” Ganguly stated, commenting on the difficulty of integrating Jurel into the existing lineup.

The ICC stalwart opined that should the selectors consider experimentation, Jurel could see action as a No. 3 batter. “The positions are mostly secured — with two openers, Shubman Gill batting at 4, Pant at 5, and both KL Rahul and Jadeja securing spots. It may not be straightforward to create a position for Dhruv Jurel at this moment,” he noted, suggesting a choice may come down to selecting between Jurel and Sai Sudharsan for that spot.

At just 23 years old, Dhruv Jurel has been displaying remarkable form in domestic cricket. Notably, in a recent unofficial Test series against South Africa ‘A’, he scored back-to-back centuries, bolstering India ‘A’ to a strong win in Bengaluru. His impressive showing has garnered attention from selectors and former players alike, with Ganguly labeling him as “in-form” and primed for a significant challenge.

Ganguly also shared his confidence in India’s potential to dominate in home conditions. He stated that India’s potent spin attack, coupled with their formidable batting lineup, positions them as favorites. “India’s spin attack is quite strong. The youth-laden team performed excellently during their tour of England three months back,” he remarked, commending performers such as Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Pant, Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep, and Jadeja for their consistent displays.

While acknowledging South Africa's recent strong performance in Pakistan, Ganguly emphasized that facing India on home turf presents a significantly greater challenge. “Competing against India in India is a whole different ball game,” he commented. “They'll need to play exceptionally well to keep up with India.” His remarks serve as a testament to India's dominant test record at home over the last decade.

The first Test between India and South Africa is slated to kick off at Eden Gardens from November 14 through November 18, followed by the second Test in Guwahati from November 22 to 26.

After the Test series, both teams will transition to the ODI matches, commencing on November 30 in Ranchi and continuing with fixtures in Raipur (December 3) and Visakhapatnam (December 6).

The T20 series will commence on December 9 in Cuttack, followed by matches in New Chandigarh (December 11), Dharamsala (December 14), Lucknow (December 17), and concluding in Ahmedabad (December 19).

Ganguly wrapped up his remarks by praising the depth and diversity of the current Indian squad. “This team is a reservoir of talent,” he concluded, underscoring the balance of youthful energy and seasoned players, which renders India formidable across various formats. He expressed optimism that selectors would find a way to include Jurel, whose eager pursuit of runs and self-assurance could inject new vitality into India's batting order.

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