The five-match Test series between India and England is set to begin on June 20, but before that, India is engaged in a warm-up fixture against the England Lions. One player who’s turned heads with his stellar performance is wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel. With a hat-trick of fifties in practice games, Jurel has not only impressed the selectors but also intensified the competition for a spot in the playing XI—especially for vice-captain Rishabh Pant.

Jurel’s Red-Hot Form

Jurel scored 94 and an unbeaten 53 in the first unofficial Test against England Lions at Canterbury, displaying patience, timing, and maturity far beyond his years.

His consistency has sparked growing calls for his inclusion in the main Test squad. However, finding a place for him in the final XI is a challenge due to the current team composition.

As it stands, India’s probable batting order looks like this:

Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul

Middle Order: Karun Nair and captain Shubman Gill

No. 5: Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)

No. 6: Ravindra Jadeja (all-rounder)

No. 7: Either Shardul Thakur or Nitish Kumar Reddy

Including Jurel would require leaving out either an all-rounder or a bowler, which could upset the team’s balance—especially in English conditions where a strong bowling lineup is critical.

The pace attack is expected to be led by Jasprit Bumrah, with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna likely to support him. The final spot in the bowling lineup may go to either Arshdeep Singh or Kuldeep Yadav, depending on pitch conditions.

With such stiff competition and limited slots, Jurel’s inclusion remains uncertain—but his performances have undoubtedly given the selectors something to think about.