For good six months now, or probably earlier, entire India has been debating, as to who should be Test team’s no.3. Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan were the choices in England, but all they could manage is one fifty each and ended with averages in their 20s. Post that, in the West Indies series, domestic veteran Karun Nair was completely overlooked, which remains to be the case in the upcoming South Africa series too. Sudharsan is still there though.
Dhruv Jurel over Sai Sudharsan at no.3?
But do we really need him at no. 3, with keeper-batter doing exceptional things. Let’s just start with the most recent ones. In the IND A vs SA A 2nd Test, Dhruv Jurel has scored his second ton in as many innings, after he scored 132 not out in the first, when India were 126/7. Of course, during the West Indies first Test, he got his maiden ton in Ahmedabad, where he scored 125.
But his good patch of form traces back to IND A vs AUS A and even IND A vs ENG Lions. Against the Aussie side, he scored 140 and a 56 in Lucknow, whereas against the Lions, he returned with consistent scores of 94, 53, 52, and 28. All this just goes on to show, that Dhruv Jurel deserves to the no. 3 batter that India has been desiring for.
Dhruv Jurel in Last 10 FC innings
| Runs | Against |
|---|---|
| 100 | South Africa A |
| 132 | South Africa A |
| 44 | West Indies |
| 6 | West Indies |
| 125 | West Indies |
| 1 | Australia A |
| 56 | Australia A |
| 140 | Australia A |
| 19 | England |
| 34 | England |
Rishabh Pant a must-have too
While saying this, one must admit that Rishabh Pant remains the keeper-batter in the side, but on pure, sheer batting class, Jurel deserves to be in the Test XI. No. 3 is one spot that he can make his own, given the struggles others have had in the past. Or if, the management isn’t confident, he could tried out at 5-6, with Shubman Gill at no. 3.
But then, Gautam Gambhir and Gill should utilise the good form of his, and the player could end up serving the nation for long number of years to come.
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