Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has raised a key question for the team management ahead of the Test series against South Africa starting November 14. Speaking on Star Sports, he asked whether India should go with an all-rounder like Nitish Kumar Reddy or pick a pure batter in Dhruv Jurel.
“There will be only one question for India, and that will be at No. 6, whether you want to play Nitish Reddy or Dhruv Jurel. It will be an early start in Kolkata. So can Nitish Reddy play the role of the third seamer? Then you can use Nitish Reddy with two seamers, and three spinners will come in the second innings,” Parthiv said.
Jurel has been in superb form lately, scoring two unbeaten centuries — 132 and 127 — in both innings of the ongoing unofficial Test against South Africa A. Earlier, in the two-match Test series against the West Indies, he was India’s fourth-highest run-getter with 175 runs in two matches at an average of 87.50, including a century in Ahmedabad.
Parthiv praised Jurel’s consistency and backed him for a spot based on the team’s combination. “Whether it was against the West Indies or wherever and whichever position Jurel has gotten to bat in, he has scored runs. The only thing is the combination you want to play with. If your combination is that you want to play an all-rounder, then he might not get a place.”
“However, if you want to play a pure batter, Dhruv Jurel can play there, and this management has already shown that kind of confidence in Dhruv Jurel once. He played as a batter in Perth. Although India won that Test match, he didn’t get a chance after that. I feel Dhruv Jurel has done enough to be considered as a batter in the Test team,” he added.
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