"We were saying Sarfaraz or KL Rahul at No. 6, Dhruv Jurel might be your No. 6" - Aakash Chopra lauds Jurel's knock in IND A vs AUS A clash
Aakash Chopra reckons Dhruv Jurel could play ahead of Sarfaraz Khan and KL Rahul as India's No. 6 batter in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The former India player praised the wicketkeeper-batter for bailing India A out of a precarious situation in the ongoing second unofficial Test against Australia A.
Jurel scored 80 runs off 186 deliveries as India A were bowled out for 161 in their first innings in Melbourne on Day 1 (Thursday, November 7). Australia A ended the day at 53/2, with Mukesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed picking up a wicket apiece for the visitors.
Reflecting on the first day's play in a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the cricketer-turned-commentator opined that Jurel could pip Sarfaraz and Rahul to the No. 6 position in India's batting lineup.
"One guy saved the honor a little bit. His name is Dhruv Jurel. He scored 80 runs, hit two sixes, played 186 balls, and gave a semblance of respectability to the score because India could score 161. It seemed at one stage that they would be all out for 80-85. It's a slightly strange thing but don't rule it out. We were saying Sarfaraz or KL Rahul at No. 6, Dhruv Jurel might be your No. 6," he said (2:45).
Chopra added that Jurel might have confirmed his place in the XI irrespective of Rohit Sharma's availability for the first Test.
"It means you might see another wicketkeeper playing in the XI after Rishabh Pant because this Indian team is repeatedly telling us that they are not averse to change. It could be Dhruv Jurel batting at No. 6 at Perth on the 22nd. It doesn't make a difference whether Rohit is there or not. Dhruv Jurel will play in any case," he observed.
The first Test of the five-match series between India and Australia will be played in Perth from November 22 onwards. Reports suggest Indian skipper Rohit could miss one of the first two Tests due to personal reasons.
"You need to think more about KL Rahul" - Aakash Chopra on opener's failure vs Australia A
![KL Rahul scored only four runs in India A's first innings. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/367c5-17310363015851-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that KL Rahul being tried as an opener did not yield the desired results, as he was dismissed for four runs in the first innings of the second unofficial Test against Australia A.
"You need to think more about KL Rahul because he was only sent to go there and score runs, and if you noticed they got him to open. KL Rahul opened because the Indian team have started thinking that if Rohit Sharma doesn't play at Perth, can Rahul be that opener?" he said (2:10).
The former India opener reckons Abhimanyu Easwaran should partner Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order if Rohit Sharma isn't available.
"That's what the team is thinking. I am saying why are you taking Abhimanyu Easwaran in the team if you are not going to get him to open. Get Abhimanyu Easwaran to open with Yashasvi. However, the Indian team is thinking that KL Rahul can also be made to open but Rahul has made four," Chopra noted.
Easwaran was dismissed for a duck in India A's first innings and managed only 19 runs across his two hits in the first unofficial Test against Australia A. The performance in the second innings of the ongoing game might decide Jaiswal's opening partner if Rohit is unavailable for the first Test.