• Home
  • Cricket Analysis
  • Border Gavaskar Trophy How Can India Include Dhruv Jurel In Their Playing Xi For Perth Test

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: How Can India Include Dhruv Jurel In Their Playing XI For Perth Test?

Dhruv Jurel scored brilliant 80 against Australia A (Source:@CricCrazyJohns/X.com)Dhruv Jurel scored brilliant 80 against Australia A (Source:@CricCrazyJohns/X.com)

The much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy is all set to start on 22nd of November with the first game scheduled to be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth. It is a high-profile series with WTC qualification and pride at stakes, and both teams would be looking to start the series off with a bang. The visitors, India, have won their last two series in Australia, but this time around, they are coming into the series on the back of a whitewash by New Zealand at home and would be low on confidence.

Their are also question marks over the arsenal they have at their disposal, and the team management are still pondering on their best XI for the opening Test. There is doubt over Rohit Sharma's availability for the Perth Test while the form of Indian batters is also a big concern. Even if Rohit Sharma is available, one middle order spot is still open with Sarfaraz Khan struggling after his 150 in Bengaluru Test. KL Rahul is another option at India's disposal,  but he too is not looking in great touch and amdist all these struggles, the young wicketkeeper batter Dhruv Jurel has thrown his hat in the ring with a fantastic 80 for India A against Australia A.

Dhruv Jurel and KL Rahul were added into India's playing XI for the second unofficial Tets against Australia A. Rahul failed along with other Indian batters like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudharsan and Gaikwad, but Dhruv Jurel stood tall. On a spicy pitch, the wicketkepeer batter displayed great temperament and skills and almost scored half of the runs for India as they were bowled out for just 161. His performance has now opened up another option for India, and he can be included as a specialist batter for the opening Test.

Who Can Dhruv Jurel Replace In Playing XI For Perth Test?

The likes of Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul have been preferred for the middle-order spot in the last couple of series. However, they are not looking in form and with Dhruv Jurel showing his ability to adapt in Australian conditions, Indian management might take a bold decision to play him in place of Sarafarz Khan or KL Rahul. 

Also, there is an option of slotting in KL Rahul as an opener if Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the opening Test as Abhimanyu Easwaran has struggled in three innings in Australia. If the management does decide to go in that direction, it would be a straight shoot-out between Sarafarz Khan and Dhruv Jurel and the latter seem more apt and confident at the moment with runs in Australia and impact perfomances in the limited opportunities he has got in Test cricket so far.

So, including Dhruv Jurel can turn out to be a master-stroke from India and would help them go with a batter who has confidence under his belt, something which India badly need in the opening Test of the series.