Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Saba Karim questioned Dhruv Jurel’s shot selection after the right-hander was dismissed for a blob in the first innings of the second Test match against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Monday. 

Jurel was dismissed by Marco Jansen when he tried to play a pull shot but he was caught at mid-on by Keshav Maharaj. The right-hander from Uttar Pradesh had returned with scores of 13 and 14 in the opening Test match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. 

In fact, Jurel was in fine form before the series as he had scored twin centuries against South Africa A. He had scored 127 and 132 against the visitors.

Saba Karim said on ESPN Cricinfo, “He remains a very technically competent player. That is why I was so surprised by this approach from Dhruv Jurel. No. 4, to come in and play as a specialist batter, that’s a wonderful opportunity. Dhruv Jurel has worked hard to get into this position. This was an ideal surface and a situation for him to grow in confidence and score big and, to some extent, cement his place in the batting line-up.

“Jurel has come through the domestic system. He has had a number of opportunities to play in these kind of conditions. I was expecting more,” the former India keeper-batter added.

On the other hand, Sai Sudharsan was dismissed after scoring 15 runs when he decided to pull one but was caught by Ryan Rickelton. Karim highlighted that Sudharsan puts himself in a difficult position.

“He gets off to good starts. But, at times, he puts himself in very awkward positions, especially off the back foot against spinners. He tends to get cramped and then you are not able to free your shoulders to play those shots square of the surface. I felt that was one such occasions when Sai Sudharsan got into a very awkward position and eventually holed out to the fielder at midwicket.”

Before lunch on the fourth day, South Africa are 217-4, leading by 505 runs.