Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta believes that Dhruv Jurel possesses the ideal technique to excel at the number three position in Test matches. Jurel has showcased his talent in the limited opportunities he has received at the international level. Making his debut against England in 2024 when Rishabh Pant was unavailable due to an injury, Jurel had to step down once Pant returned to the team post his recovery from a road accident.
India has been in search of a reliable number three batsman since Shubman Gill moved down to number four following Virat Kohli’s retirement. With the number three slot still up for grabs, Deep Dasgupta has endorsed Dhruv Jurel for the role within the team.
Expressing his opinion, Dasgupta emphasized, “Currently, Jurel appears to be the most technically sound candidate for the number three position. However, the team management must have a clear vision as selecting the number three batsman is a crucial decision. If Jurel is solely viewed as a backup wicketkeeper for Pant, it could pose challenges in the long term. Balancing the responsibilities of wicketkeeping and batting at number three in Tests is demanding. Alternatively, he could potentially slot in at number seven, although it may be too low for a proficient batsman.”
During the recent England tour, Karun Nair was given an opportunity at number three but struggled to convert his starts into significant scores, managing just one half-century from eight innings before being axed post the series. Sai Sudharsan was also trialed in the same position, but he too faced challenges, tallying only 273 runs in nine innings at an average of 30.33, including two half-centuries.
Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel has maintained an impressive run of form, notably scoring twin centuries in an unofficial Test against South Africa A. Speculations suggest that Jurel is likely to feature as a specialist batsman in the forthcoming series against South Africa commencing on November 14. The team management’s decision on incorporating him in the playing XI alongside Rishabh Pant, who is set to return after recovering from a toe fracture injury, remains to be seen.