Jurel’s Red-Ball Dominance Makes Him Contender for No.3 Against South Africa

India's cricket team faces an intriguing selection puzzle ahead of the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens, starting November 14, 2025, with wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel's blistering red-ball form threatening to dislodge B Sai Sudharsan from the pivotal No. 3 position. The 23-year-old Jurel, who earned his spot in the 15-member squad announced on November 5, has been a revelation since his Test debut against England earlier this year, averaging 48 across six innings and notching a maiden century in the recent home series against the West Indies. His recent exploits for India A against South Africa A—twin centuries in the second unofficial Test in Bengaluru, including an unbeaten 127—have elevated his first-class average to a staggering 58, drawing endorsements from legends like Sourav Ganguly, who suggested promoting Jurel to No. 3 over Sudharsan. With captain Shubman Gill slotted at No. 4 and Rishabh Pant returning as vice-captain and primary keeper at No. 5, the top order's stability hinges on this call, especially on a pitch expected to favour spin and seam early.

Jurel's case is compelling, rooted in his technical solidity and mental fortitude that align seamlessly with the demands of Test cricket's engine room. Compact in defence, adept at playing late, and unflappable under pressure, he has repeatedly anchored innings in seaming conditions abroad and turning tracks at home, as evidenced by his 140 and 56 against Australia A in county simulations earlier this year. Ganguly, speaking on November 10, emphasised Jurel's "super form" and composure, noting, "If they bring Jurel at No. 3 instead of Sai, it shouldn’t be a surprise," while highlighting the scarcity of slots with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul locked in. Social media buzz echoes this, with analysts like Ayush Arora arguing Jurel's control in Tests makes him a superior fit over Sudharsan, potentially allowing India to field six specialist bowlers—Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj—without compromising depth. At Eden Gardens, where spin historically dominates after Day 2, Jurel's ability to rotate strike and counterattack could neutralise South Africa's pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi.

Conversely, Sudharsan, the 23-year-old left-hander groomed as India's long-term No. 3 since his debut against England in 2024, brings promise but inconsistency that has stalled his consolidation. With 412 test runs at an average of 34.33, including a gritty 89 on debut, he offers elegant strokeplay and left-right balance alongside Jaiswal, but vulnerabilities against short balls and leg-stump lines—flagged by coaches—have led to three single-digit scores in his last five innings. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has defended him publicly, stating Sudharsan is "working on it", yet his modest India A returns (45 and 32 against South Africa A) pale beside Jurel's fireworks. Retaining Sudharsan maintains the team's grooming pipeline for the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, where home dominance is key, but it risks overloading the middle order with Pant and Jadeja, potentially exposing Nitish Kumar Reddy's inexperience at No. 6 if Washington Sundar edges him out.

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The broader squad dynamics, including Pant's injury layoff since the England series in July and Akash Deep's inclusion for seam variety, amplify the urgency for balance. Probable XIs circulating in media—such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sudharsan/Gill, Pant, Jurel/Reddy, and Jadeja—underscore the trade-offs: Jurel's inclusion might sideline Sudharsan or Reddy, enabling a spin-heavy attack suited to Kolkata's black-soil surface, which assisted off-spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin in past encounters. Former keeper Parthiv Patel, on November 9, advocated Jurel as a pure batter at No. 6 if Reddy plays, but a No. 3 promotion maximises his impact without disrupting Pant's keeping rhythm. South Africa's recent struggles in Asia (winless since 2014) favour India, yet their batting firepower—led by Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma—demands a robust top order to set up declarations.

Ultimately, India should back Dhruv Jurel at No. 3 for the Eden opener, leveraging his white-hot streak to inject dynamism and reward merit in a format where form trumps familiarity. This bold pivot not only exploits Jurel's crisis-managing prowess—evident in his 132 not out for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy—but also signals faith in youth, mirroring Rohit Sharma's transitional blueprint. Sudharsan, with his potential intact, can bide time in the squad or India A, ensuring depth for the Guwahati rematch. As Ganguly opined, the spots are "taken" by performers like Gill and Pant, but Jurel's temperament makes him the ideal tempo-setter against a Proteas side eyeing redemption post their 2023-24 India tour loss. In the cauldron of Eden, where 68,000 fans will roar, starting with Jurel could ignite India's WTC campaign on a high note.

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