India is expected to field both of its wicketkeeper-batsmen in the playing XI for the Eden Gardens Test against South Africa. The two countries will begin the two-Test series here, part of the fourth round of the ICC World Test Championship. The Test match begins on Friday, November 14th. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant will be playing together in the playing XI.
Jurel and Pant can play together
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel, who scored 125, 44 and 6 not out in the two-match Test series against West Indies, had scored 132 not out and 127 not out while playing for India A in the second Test against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru last week.
Assistant coach said…
“I don’t think you can leave him (Dhruv Jurel) out of this Test. Obviously, you can only select 11 players. So, someone else will have to sit out,” Ten Doeschate told reporters at a press conference.
He said, “I think we have a good idea of the combination. Given Dhruv’s performance over the last six months, he’s a certainty to play this week. He scored two centuries in Bengaluru last week. I’d be very surprised if you don’t see Dhruv and Rishabh in action this week.” Ten Doeschate said Jurel is certain to play. Consequently, batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy may miss the first match.
He said, “The most important thing is to develop a strategy to win matches. And then if you can give players a chance to progress, that’s essential. Our stance on Nitish hasn’t changed at all. He didn’t get much time playing in Australia. But I would say that given the importance of the series and the conditions we’re facing, he may be out of this week’s Test match.”
