Former Australia captain Tim Paine has advocated for young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel to be included in India’s XI for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, set to begin on November 22 in Perth. Although Jurel is primarily part of the squad as a backup for Rishabh Pant, Paine believes that Dhruv Jurel’s recent form justifies a place in the lineup purely as a specialist batter alongside Rishabh Pant.
Tim Paine’s endorsement stems from Dhruv Jurel’s standout performances during a recent series against Australia A, where he showcased his abilities against formidable bowlers like Scott Boland and Michael Neser on a challenging MCG surface. The 23-year-old scored 80 and 68 in a four-day match, impressing Paine, who coached Australia A during the series. Dhruv Jurel’s technical proficiency and composure at the crease on bouncy pitches have led to calls for his inclusion, even in a batting role.
Despite limited international exposure, Jurel’s brief Test career offers promising indicators. In three Tests against England earlier this year, Jurel scored 46, 90, 39 not out, and 15, averaging 63 with the bat. While Tim Paine acknowledges that three matches may not be enough to definitively judge a player’s long-term potential, he emphasizes that such performances cannot be dismissed as fleeting. “There’s a guy who has wicket kept in a few Test matches for India. He averages 63 out of the three Tests he’s played, and his name is Dhruv Jurel,” Paine remarked during an appearance on ‘SEN Tassie’.
While it remains uncertain if India will heed Tim Paine’s advice and include both Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant in the XI, Jurel’s ability to adapt and thrive under testing conditions has certainly bolstered his credentials ahead of the high-stakes series.
