Young Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel is making a compelling case for inclusion in India’s Test squad against Australia after a strong showing for India A. In the ongoing second unofficial Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Jurel scored a resilient 80 runs, demonstrating both skill and grit as he faced 186 deliveries.
His innings came at a crucial time, rescuing India from a precarious 11 for 4 and helping them reach a respectable total of 161 in the first innings. Dhruv Jurel’s Test career began earlier in 2024 in Rajkot, and while Rishabh Pant remains the favoured wicketkeeper-batter, Jurel’s form could earn him a spot purely as a specialist batter.
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His talent has been recognized at the domestic level too—he was retained by the Rajasthan Royals for a hefty Rs 14 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, reflecting his growing value in Indian cricket. With Pant’s return, Jurel may not displace him behind the stumps, but his reliability with the bat gives India additional options for the upcoming series.
MCG just witnessed a Dhruv Jurel special 💗 pic.twitter.com/U2QM44pufI
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 7, 2024
KL Rahul also joined the India A squad for the unofficial Test but had a disappointing outing. Opening alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran, he managed only four runs before falling to Scott Boland in the second over. Rahul, who was recently dropped for the final Tests against New Zealand, is now vying for a spot as Yashasvi Jaiswal’s opening partner. His competition, Easwaran, fared even worse, getting dismissed without scoring.
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As India prepares for the first Test against Australia on November 22 at Perth’s Optus Stadium, they face selection dilemmas. With captain Rohit Sharma likely to miss the series opener due to personal reasons, the pressure is on for India’s backup players to perform. While Jurel shines in the middle order, the hunt for reliable openers continues amidst Rahul and Easwaran’s recent struggles.
