Ganguly Wants Dhruv Jurel As Batter In South Africa Tests

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has said that young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel should be part of India’s Test squad against South Africa, not as a wicketkeeper, but purely as a batter. With the first Test scheduled at Eden Gardens, Ganguly believes Jurel’s recent form deserves recognition even though first-choice wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is set to return.

Rishabh Pant, who missed cricket for several months due to a foot fracture, is ready to make his comeback in the upcoming Test series. Ganguly admitted that Pant’s return complicates team selection since most batting positions are already filled. “He’s playing well, isn’t he? Rishabh is back and I don’t know what the selectors are thinking,” Ganguly said, reflecting on the challenge of fitting Jurel into the current lineup.

Ganguly suggested that if the selectors are open to experimentation, Jurel could be tested as a No. 3 batter. “Basically, the spots are taken — two openers, Shubman Gill at 4, Pant at 5, KL Rahul and Jadeja are there. Players have performed. How easy will it be to open up a slot for Dhruv Jurel at this stage, I wouldn’t know,” he remarked. He added that the decision could come down to choosing between Sai Sudharsan or Jurel for the No. 3 position.

The 23-year-old Dhruv Jurel has been in sensational form in domestic cricket. In the recent unofficial Test series against South Africa ‘A’, he scored centuries in both innings, helping India ‘A’ dominate the match in Bengaluru. His impressive run with the bat has caught the attention of selectors and former players alike, including Ganguly, who called him “in-form” and ready for a bigger challenge.

Ganguly also expressed strong confidence in India’s ability to dominate at home. He said India’s spin attack, combined with their talented batting lineup, makes them the favorites. “Because India’s spin attack is very good. And this young team went to England three months ago and played exceptionally well,” Ganguly said, praising players like Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Pant, Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep, and Jadeja for their consistency.

Although South Africa recently performed well in Pakistan, Ganguly believes facing India in India will be a much tougher test. “India in India are a different kettle of fish,” he said. “They’ll have to play really, really well to compete with India.” The former skipper’s statement reflects India’s strong record at home, where they have rarely lost a Test series in the last decade.

The first Test match between India and South Africa will begin at Eden Gardens on November 14 and continue until November 18. The second Test will take place in Guwahati from November 22 to 26.

After the Tests, both teams will move on to the ODI series, beginning on November 30 in Ranchi, followed by games in Raipur (December 3) and Visakhapatnam (December 6).

The T20I series will start on December 9 in Cuttack, followed by matches in New Chandigarh (December 11), Dharamsala (December 14), Lucknow (December 17), and Ahmedabad (December 19) as the final fixture.

Ganguly concluded by praising the current Indian squad for its depth and versatility. “This team is a bundle of talent,” he said, emphasizing the mix of youth and experience that makes India a strong side in all formats. He expressed hope that selectors will find a way to include Jurel, whose hunger for runs and confidence could add fresh energy to India’s batting lineup.