"The team management also likes him" - Irfan Pathan's massive claim on Team India star ahead of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that Dhruv Jurel has a brilliant opportunity to stake his claim in the Test team middle-order as he has both form and the team management's backing at the moment. The wicket-keeper batter is in a fine run of form, slamming four centuries across his last eight innings ahead of the upcoming home series against South Africa.

Dhruv Jurel flawlessly stepped in for Rishabh Pant after the latter's injury during the England tour. The back-up wicket-keeper stepped up to the plate in the home series against the West Indies, recording his maiden ton midway through the first Test in Ahmedabad.

Recently, he slammed twin tons during the second unofficial Test against South Africa 'A' in Bengaluru, strengthening his case to be featured as a pure batter for India after Rishabh Pant's recovery.

Irfan Pathan backed Jurel's inclusion in the playing XI for the first Test, branding him as a major prospect to look forward to, even for overseas assignments.

"The way Dhruv Jurel is playing, he has to be in the playing XI. The team management also likes him. He can play as a pure batter. If Dhruv Jurel plays, India will have three wicket-keepers in their playing XI as Rahul and Pant will also be there. I hope Jurel gets a long run. Even going forward, on overseas pitches, he could prove to be a good batter," Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Team India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also hinted at Dhruv Jurel's inclusion in the playing XI. Shortly after, it was announced that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will join the India 'A' squad for the List A matches with South Africa 'A' in Rajkot.

Irfan Pathan, however, feels that India could have used the young all-rounder as the third seamer in the first Test.

"So, under such circusmtanes, there is a lot of responsibility on Bumrah and Siraj. They released Nitish Kumar Reddy to play for India 'A' as well. I actually thought Nitish Kumar Reddy could play here as a third seamer, and can bat too. So, I think India will go with two pacers and three spinners for this game," he added.

The pace bowling all-rounder dealt with a quadriceps injury and neck spasms during the Australia white-ball tour recently. He featured in two ODIs, while Shivam Dube donned the role of the all-rounder in the T20I series.

"It was not like Kuldeep left them on all fours or something" - Irfan Pathan on the star spinners' form ahead of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Team India decided to release Kuldeep Yadav from the T20I squad in Australia midway through the series to help with his red-ball preparation. The wrist spinner featured for India 'A' in the second unofficial Test in Bengaluru, returning figures of 1-66 and 0-81 as South Africa 'A' chased down 417 in the final innings.

Kuldeep Yadav's sole wicket was of Tiaan van Vuuren in the first innings, where he had an economy of 6.00, the highest of the entire bowling attack.

"Kuldeep Yadav was released from the T20I squad in Australia so that he could get some red-ball cricket before the Test. The South Africa 'A' batters played well against him, and it was not like Kuldeep left them on all fours or something. But even then, you expect that after Kuldeep was sent in to play the India 'A' game after so much planning, after being released from the T20I squad midway through the series, he has got to play," Irfan Pathan opined.

The first Test between India and South Africa is scheduled to begin from Friday, November 14 onwards at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

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Edited by Gokul Nair