Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has voiced his support for Dhruv Jurel to play as a specialist batter in the upcoming first Test match against Australia in Perth. This comes as India faces a selection dilemma with Rohit Sharma on paternity leave and Shubman Gill ruled out due to a fractured thumb.
Shastri’s Confidence in Dhruv Jurel
Shastri praised Jurel’s temperament and calmness under pressure, highlighting his impressive performances in the India A tour games against Australia A. Jurel scored 80 and 68 in the two innings, showcasing his ability to handle challenging conditions. Shastri believes that Jurel’s mental toughness and range of shots make him a suitable candidate for the middle-order batting role.
“I think he can easily play as a (specialist) batter,” Shastri said.
“What impressed me most was his temperament, his calmness when the chips were down and the tightness he brought to his game – especially under pressure.
“Under pressure, you can see a lot of players struggling. You can see them being fidgety. You can see them being all over the shop. You can see those nerves coming through. But in this guy’s case, his temperament stood out.
“Whenever the chips were down, even in that series against England (earlier this year) he stepped up to the plate. So I like what I saw and I’ll be quite prepared to give him a go if he’s in good nick.”
Shastri suggested that Jurel could bat at number six, behind Rishabh Pant and ahead of the spin-bowling all-rounder. This would provide India with more flexibility in the middle order, especially in the absence of key players like Rohit and Gill.
“I think seeing his form, he got 80 and 60, will do his confidence a world of good. And he’s got the range of shots as well. It’s not that he’s just a blocker there, he can play shots. He can bat with the tail as well. See, that’s why it becomes important. If you push Shubman up the order, it gives you more options in the middle order. So that’s how India could look to balance it if Rohit is missing,” Shastri concluded.
