Sarfaraz Khan and Aakash Chopra. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Former India opener Aakash Chopra calls into question after the Board of Control for India (BCCI) selectors opted for Dhruv Jurel ahead of Sarfaraz Khan and Ishan Kishan for the Test series against England. India and England will play five Tests with the first match to be played in Hyderabad from January 25.
Jurel was included in the 16-man squad as one of three keepers along with Srikar Bharat and KL Rahul. Chopra spoke about the 22-year-old’s short first-class career and questioned whether Sarfaraz and Kishan should have been picked ahead of him.
“Dhruv Jurel hasn’t played a lot of first-class cricket. He has played 15 matches only and scored a total of 790 runs in 19 innings. Of course, there is a highest score of nearly 250. 46.50 is not a bad average. He has scored one century and five fifties.
“If you see it that way, you will say is that enough to be called for Test cricket? If this is enough, what should Sarfaraz do? What more can he do? Have we decided that Ishan Kishan won’t be considered until he goes back to first-class cricket and scores runs?” asked Chopra in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
I don’t see Dhruv Jurel playing: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra believes that Dhruv Jurel is unlikely to be included in India’s XI. He also stated that KL Rahul behind the stumps is also something that he is not expecting. The 46-year-old went on to reflect on Rahul’s performance in the South Africa series, stating he might struggle in Indian conditions where Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel are bowling.
“Dhruv Jurel is an interesting choice. Firstly, I don’t see him playing. KL Rahul might not play as a keeper. That’s also a possibility because you might not want to play KL Rahul as a keeper in these conditions. Catches were dropped in South Africa as well. Anyone can drop catches, but if you are playing Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar, and trying to make dustbowl-type pitches, you won’t get Rahul to keep,” the former cricketer added.
