India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate on Wednesday confirmed that Dhruv Jurel will feature in the playing eleven alongside Rishabh Pant for the first Test against South Africa, starting at Eden Gardens on Friday. After hitting his maiden Test hundred in the 2-0 series win over the West Indies, Jurel hit scores of 132 not out and 127 not out for India A in the second red-ball game against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru last week.

There were doubters on Jurel retaining his place in the playing eleven despite Pant’s return from a fractured right foot, but his good batting form has resulted in him holding on to his spot. The only time Jurel and Pant played together in a playing eleven was in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth.

"I don't think you

See Full Page