"If this is enough, what should Sarfaraz do?" - Aakash Chopra on Dhruv Jurel's numbers that earned him selection for the first 2 IND vs ENG Tests
Aakash Chopra has questioned why Dhruv Jurel has been selected ahead of the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Ishan Kishan in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England.
Rohit Sharma and company will face England in a five-match series, with the first game to be played in Hyderabad from January 25. Jurel has been picked as one of three keepers in the 16-member Indian squad, with Srikar Bharat and KL Rahul being the other two.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra reflected on Jurel's short first-class career. He questioned whether Sarfaraz and Kishan merited a place ahead of the Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper-batter, elaborating (5:05):
"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.
The former India opener added:
"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?"
Chopra acknowledged that Kishan had opted out of the recent Test series against South Africa. However, he questioned whether the Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter is still unavailable and will remain so for how long.
"I don't see him playing" - Aakash Chopra on Dhruv Jurel's place in India's playing XI
Aakash Chopra doesn't see Dhruv Jurel figuring in India's playing XI. However, he acknowledged that KL Rahul might not keep wickets against England, saying (5:55):
"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."
The renowned commentator reckons the Karnataka player might struggle to keep on subcontinental tracks off Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel's bowling. He stated:
"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."
However, Chopra feels Rahul might play ahead of Shreyas Iyer as a pure batter because he is in better form. He concluded by opining that Srikar Bharat will keep wickets in the Test series against England.