In-form wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel will play the opening Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in place of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Disclosing this, India's assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate said on Wednesday that they were "clear" about their combination ahead of the opening Test. "I think we've got a pretty good idea of the combination, and I don't think you can leave Jurel and Rishabh Pant out for this Test. That's the short answer.
Talking to the media, Doeschate said, "I would be very surprised if you don't see Dhruv and Rishabh playing in this Test.”
The 24-year-old Jurel, who has played seven Tests so far, has struck four centuries in his last five first-class matches, including twin hundreds against South Africa “A” in Bengaluru last week.
With first-choice wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant back after recovering from a foot fracture he suffered during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in July, there were questions over whether the management would find room for Jurel.
Now a year-and-a-half into his international career, Jurel has shown poise and maturity beyond his experience.
Since mid-September 2025, his first-class form has been remarkable with scores of 140, 56, 125, 44, 132 not out and 127 not out across five matches (including Ranji, Test and “A” games). His first-class average has surged from 47.34 to 58.00, making it difficult to overlook him.
"Given the way Jurel has gone in the last six months, scoring two hundreds in Bangalore last week, he is certain to play this week," Doeschate said.
There were reports that Jurel would come in as a pure batsman with Pant reclaiming the wicketkeeper's gloves. Asked about Reddy's omission, the former Netherlands cricketer said, "In the West Indies series, Nitish played both Tests and we said it was important to groom him for the future. So yes, we do look at him as a potential player who is playing to learn. But I also said strategy comes first. The primary thing is to set out a strategy to win the game. But given the importance of this series and the conditions we think we're going to face, Reddy might miss out in this Test this week."
Doeschate also highlighted India's depth and flexibility in the lower-middle order, thanks to their spin-bowling all-rounders. "Again, like what I mentioned about Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, you've actually got three batsmen there. So, it does give us a lot of flexibility," he said, hinting that Axar Patel could return to the XI in place of Kuldeep Yadav.
Nitish had a modest outing in the West Indies series that India swept 2-0, bowling just four overs in the opening Test and going wicket-less. His contribution with the bat was 43 from one innings. In the subsequent ODI series in Australia, he scored 19 not out and 8 in two matches.
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