Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai
Rishabh Pant has a race against time to be fit for the West Indies series that starts in Ahmedabad on October 2. He returned to India a few days ago, consulted a specialist in Mumbai and his foot is now out of a cast. The next stage is the rehabilitation process at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Although he is reportedly walking comfortably, it is learnt that there is just an outside chance of him playing the two Tests against the Caribbeans. The team for the series is expected to be announced during or after the second multi-day game between India A and Australia A, from September 23.
Pant suffered a toe fracture during the first innings of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, as he attempted an audacious reverse scoop to a Chris Woakes yorker. He missed the final Test at The Oval, and given the nature of his injury, full recovery takes time. The southpaw, if he is ruled out of the series against the West Indies, would be missed, for as a Test batter he is a freak, capable of doing the impossible. Then again, Indian cricket, spoiled with the embarrassment of riches, can boast a back-up who is good enough to walk into a lot of other sides in the world as a first-choice.
Dhruv Jurel is an excellent wicketkeeper in his own right. He is also a fine bat down the order, especially in home conditions. In his maiden Test series, against England last year, and with Pant still recovering from a near-fatal car accident, Jurel revelled under pressure. A 90 in the first innings in Ranchi was laced with six fours and four sixes. But the 39 not out in the second dig that took the hosts over the line from an uncomfortable 120/5 has been his best yet in his nascent Test career. It attested steel.
Jurel has played only two Tests so far on the road, in testing conditions. In Perth last winter, he struggled against the moving ball. At The Oval about a month-and-a-half previously, he looked assured at the crease in both innings, playing as Pant’s replacement. But he didn’t have a big score to show for.
From that perspective, his 140 off 197 balls for India A in the first unofficial Test against Australia A in Lucknow would augur well for him and the Indian team. The playing XI won’t be loaded with batters in home conditions, against a side like West Indies. Jurel as the ‘keeper-bat’ would offer the right balance.
Devdutt Padikkal, too, scored a daddy hundred against Australia A — 150 off 281 balls. But Jurel was more commanding, rattling along at an 80-plus strike-rate before finishing with 71.06. There’s a school of thought that the 24-year-old could well be played as a specialist batter, alongside Pant, if the latter is declared fit.
“I think he (Jurel) can easily play as a batter,” Ravi Shastri, the former India captain and head coach, said in a video on ICC’s social media last year. “For me, what impressed me most was his temperament. His calmness when the chips were down and the tightness he has brought to his game, especially under pressure.”
A middle-order place is expected to be up for grabs in the home series. Shreyas Iyer, as RevSportz has reported, is in the reckoning. If Pant fails to make the West Indies Tests, Jurel would be an automatic pick in the playing XI. If a spectacular recovery allows the team’s vice-captain to be present in Ahmedabad, then also, Jurel could present a strong case for his inclusion as a specialist batter by the dint of his performance against Australia A.
For More Sports Related News: Follow RevSportz