Despite keeping wickets for nearly 150 overs at Lord’s, Dhruv Jurel will have no place in the India Playing XI for the IND vs ENG Manchester Test. Rishabh Pant, who suffered a finger injury on Day 1 of Lord’s Test, is fit to keep wickets again. Pant will return to his role behind the stumps. Unless India find a place for Jurel, the keeper-batter will play no part in the series-deciding 4th Test.
“Rishabh Pant will keep wickets in the fourth Test against England in Manchester,” India captain Shubman Gill confirmed that Pant will don the big gloves at Old Trafford when the 4th Test starts on Wednesday.
Pant winced in pain when he batted in the Lord’s Test. Despite scoring 74 in the 1st innings, Pant was uncomfortable after his finger nail broke while keeping wickets.
No place for Dhruv Jurel?
The 24-year-old has offered an excellent backup option for India, not just with the gloves, but also with the bat. In the India A vs England Lions series, Dhruv Jurel hit three consecutive half-centuries, scoring 94, 53, 52 and 28. However, with Karun Nair and Nitish Kumar Reddy getting the No 3 and No 7 slots, Jurel has not found a place in India Playing XI.
For the IND vs ENG Manchester Test, India will be without Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is out of the series with a knee injury. But Karun Nair will continue his role at No 3, as Shubman Gill confirmed.
“We think he is batting well. In the first match, he didn’t play at his number. No issues with his batting. Once you are able to get to 50 and get in the zone. We are hopeful that he can turn it around,” Shubman Gill said of Karun Nair, who has scored 0, 20, 31, 26, 40 and 14 in the six innings in this series.
With Nair set to play, Dhruv Jurel can only fight for No 7 or No 8 slots. As one of Anshul Kamboj or Shardul Thakur likely to replace Reddy, the only slot will be at No 7, which is currently occupied by Washington Sundar.
But considering Sundar is an all-rounder, he is a certainty. Sundar bagged four wickets in the 2nd innings of the Lord’s Test. He has also scored 42, 12, 23 and 0 in four innings. Jurel earned plaudits from former cricketers for his wicketkeeping at Lord’s.
The only way Jurel can make the Playing XI is if India go with three seamers and two spinners. In that scenario, Jurel can slot in at No 7 with Sundar taking the No 8 spot. Shardul/Kamboj-Bumrah-Siraj will make the last three spots. However, if India go with Kuldeep Yadav, there will be no place for Jurel in India Playing XI.
