Why India should add Dhruv Jurel to Perth Test team, explains ex-Australia skipper | Cricket News

India’s back-up keeper Dhruv Jurel could play as a specialist batter in the Perth Test, said former Australia captain Tim Paine.

Indian batsman Dhruv Jurel (R) plays a shot on the third day of the Australia A against India A cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on November 9, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

New Delhi: Dhruv Jurel’s performance in tour games deserve to be rewarded with an inclusion to India’s playing XI for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series, believes former Australia skipper Tim Paine.

The keeper-batter scored 80 and 68 batting at No.6 for India A against Australia A in Melbourne. Paine, who watched the proceedings from the sidelines as coach of Australia A, was impressed at the composed way Jurel batted.

It was enough to convince Paine that the right-hander could be an option for India as a specialist batter in the opening Test that begins in Perth on November 22.

“I don’t know if you saw much of the highlights, but after seeing him bat (against Australia A) – even though he’s a wicket-keeper, from what I’ve seen on this tour and from India’s batting in the last couple of months, I’d be staggered if he doesn’t play,” Paine told Australian radio station SEN.

“He scored one of the more polished 80s I’ve seen, and we were all sitting around as staff of Cricket Australia and thought, ‘Wow, this guy can seriously play’.”

Jurel has only played in three Tests so far, having made his Test debut against England in Rajkot earlier in the year, scoring 46 as a No.8 batter, following it up 90 in the ensuing Test in Ranchi.

But that inexperience would not be a hurdle for him to flourish in Australia, said Paine, thpugh he has been selected primarily as a back-up to first-choice keeper Rishabh Pant.

“He’s 23 and he’s played three Test matches, but he looked a class above all of his teammates, to be fair, and handled the pace and bounce really well, which can be unusual for an Indian player,” Paine said.

“Keep an eye out for him this summer. I think he’s going to impress a lot of Australian fans. Even though it’s going to be another step up against the big three (Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood), he looks like he has the game to play Test cricket.”

A journalist for 15 years, who keeps his eyes peeled on sporting events with a particular focus on football. Has worked at some of the most respected Indian media organisations including The Statesman, The Asian Age, IANS and Sports Illustrated. Ventured into books with ‘Box to box: 75 years of the Indian football team’, which he co-wrote and edited.

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