Rishabh Pant's Struggles Open Door for Dhruv Jurel in England Test Series

Concerns Over Rishabh Pant's Performance

The form of Rishabh Pant, India's test vice-captain and wicket-keeper, has raised concerns among selectors ahead of the five-match test series against England. Pant concluded his IPL 2025 season with a disappointing tally of just 269 runs from 14 matches. In light of this, young wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel, currently part of the India A team, emerges as a potential candidate to replace Pant for the upcoming series. Jurel is engaged in two unofficial four-day Test matches against the England Lions, where he narrowly missed a century, getting out for 94 runs after being dismissed by Ajeet Dale.

Jurel's Rising Profile

Despite Pant's underwhelming IPL performance, he is expected to remain in the playing XI for the initial Test matches. However, should he continue to struggle, Jurel could step in as a viable alternative. Jurel's IPL 2025 performance, while not spectacular, has shown that he can deliver when his team needs him. He has accumulated 333 runs this season and was also included in the 18-member squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Impressive Test Statistics

In his four Test appearances, Dhruv Jurel has scored 202 runs, with a top score of 90, maintaining an average of 40.40. His recent performances in the unofficial Test series against Australia A, where he scored 68 and 80 runs in two matches, have further solidified his case for selection. His recent 94 runs against the England Lions have only added to the speculation regarding his inclusion in the main squad.

Support from Tim Paine

Tim Paine, the former Australian captain, has praised Jurel's batting skills and his ability to handle bouncy pitches like the MCG. Such endorsement from a player of Paine's caliber is likely to enhance Jurel's confidence as he aims for a spot in the national team.