Sai Sudharsan’s No.3 spot in danger? Sourav Ganguly backs Dhruv Jurel to make it to playing XI vs SA

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has backed the in-form Dhruv Jurel to be a part of the Indian playing XI in the first Test of the two-match series, scheduled to start on Friday, November 14, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

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Notably, the two-match Test series is part of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, and India is currently ranked at the third spot in the table, with Australia and Sri Lanka occupying the top two positions.

Speaking at an event in Kolkata ahead of the first Test, Ganguly asserted that most of the batting positions in the Indian Test line-up have been filled and added that it would be interesting to watch in which spot Jurel makes it to the XI.

“He’s playing well, isn’t he? Rishabh is back and I don’t know what the selectors are thinking. Basically, the spots are taken — two openers, (Shubman) Gill at 4, Pant at 5, KL (Rahul), (Ravindra) Jadeja are there. Players have performed. How easy will it be to open up a slot for Dhruv Jurel at this stage, I wouldn’t know. But it depends on whom they want to send at No. 3 — whether they want to go with Sai Sudharsan, or bring in our in-form Dhruv in. We’ll find out,” said Ganguly ahead of the first Test.

For the unversed, Jurel has been in good form, scoring a lot of runs in the red-ball format. Most recently, he scored 125 runs in the first Test against the West Indies. Later, he scored 44 runs in the second Test against the same side.

In the second unofficial Test against South Africa A, the middle-order batter Jurel went on to score an unbeaten 132-run knock in the first innings. Later in the second innings, he scored 127* to make it twin centuries.

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