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Former star on India’s Selection Dilemma: Dhruv Jurel or Nitish Reddy for THIS position in South Africa Tests?
Ahead of the South Africa Test series, Parthiv Patel discussed India’s No. 6 dilemma, weighing Dhruv Jurel’s form against Nitish Reddy’s all-round ability.
Last Updated on - November 9, 2025 2:10 PM IST
Ahead of the Test series against South Africa, which begins on November 14, former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel believes the team management faces one key selction question. Parthiv said during a Star Sports discussion that ten players have virtually sealed their spots in the XI, but the No. 6 position remains up for debate between Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Jurel strengthened his case with back-to-back centuries for India A against South Africa A in the unofficial Tests, even as selectors have shown strong faith in Nitish.
“Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will open. Sai Sudharsan will be at No. 3, Shubman Gill at No. 4, and then you will see Rishabh Pant playing at No. 5. The No. 6 position is slightly tricky. Otherwise, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah,” he said.
“There will be only one question for India, and that will be at No. 6, whether you want to play Nitish Reddy or Dhruv Jurel. It will be an early start in Kolkata. So can Nitish Reddy play the role of the third seamer? Then you can use Nitish Reddy with two seamers, and three spinners will come in the second innings,” the former India wicketkeeper-batter added.
Jurel’s case for a middle-order position in the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata next week is further strengthened by his fifth first-class century and his second century in the game.
“Whether it was against the West Indies or wherever and whichever position Jurel has gotten to bat in, he has scored runs. The only thing is the combination you want to play with. If your combination is that you want to play an all-rounder, then he might not get a place,” he said.
“However, if you want to play a pure batter, Dhruv Jurel can play there, and this management has already shown that kind of confidence in Dhruv Jurel once. He played as a batter in Perth. Although India won that Test match, he didn’t get a chance after that. I feel Dhruv Jurel has done enough to be considered as a batter in the Test team,” Parthiv observed.