Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons Dhruv Jurel could also be a good option to bat at number six in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. While KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan are expected to jostle for the number six position, Jurel has also put his name in the mix.
Meanwhile, India A was tottering at 64-5 but Jurel played a fighting knock of 80 runs off 186 balls in the ongoing second unofficial Test against Australia A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. KL Rahul, on the other hand, was dismissed after scoring only four runs while opening the innings.
Sarfaraz Khan recently scored 171 runs in three Test matches against New Zealand, including a 150-run knock in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test. Khan’s shot selection was questioned when he was dismissed on a full toss in the second innings of the Mumbai Test when India was chasing 147.
“One guy saved the honor a little bit. His name is Dhruv Jurel. He scored 80 runs, hit two sixes, played 186 balls, and gave a semblance of respectability to the score because India could score 161. It seemed at one stage that they would be all out for 80-85. It’s a slightly strange thing but don’t rule it out. We were saying Sarfaraz or KL Rahul at No. 6, Dhruv Jurel might be your No. 6,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra reckons Dhruv Jurel might have sealed his place in India’s XI irrespective of Rohit Sharma’s availability.
“It means you might see another wicketkeeper playing in the XI after Rishabh Pant because this Indian team is repeatedly telling us that they are not averse to change. It could be Dhruv Jurel batting at No. 6 at Perth on the 22nd. It doesn’t make a difference whether Rohit is there or not. Dhruv Jurel will play in any case,” he observed.
The renowned commentator feels the team management is thinking of opening with KL Rahul in the absence of Rohit Sharma.
“You need to think more about KL Rahul because he was only sent to go there and score runs, and if you noticed they got him to open. KL Rahul opened because the Indian team have started thinking that if Rohit Sharma doesn’t play at Perth, can Rahul be that opener?” he said.
However, the reputed analyst wants Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was dismissed for a duck, to open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“That’s what the team is thinking. I am saying why are you taking Abhimanyu Easwaran in the team if you are not going to get him to open. Get Abhimanyu Easwaran to open with Yashasvi. However, the Indian team is thinking that KL Rahul can also be made to open but Rahul has made four,” Chopra noted.
The opening Test match between India and Australia will be played at Perth from November 22 onwards.
