IND vs ENG 3rd Test: Dhruv Jurel Likely To Make Debut In Rajkot In Place Of KS Bharat

Rohit Sharma-led side is likely to replace wicketkeeper KS Bharat with rookie Dhruv Jurel for the third Test against England in Rajkot, starting on February 15. The five-match Test series between India and England is levelled at 1-1 after the hosts won the Visakhapatnam encounter by 106 runs.

Bharat featured in the first two Tests of the series but his form with the bat has not been good. Despite the great glove work behind the stumps, Bharat is yet to click with the bat for India in red-ball cricket.

In seven Tests so far, Bharat has scored 221 runs at an average of 20.09 with no fifty to his name. In the ongoing series, he scored just 92 runs in four innings with 41 coming in the first innings of the opening Test.

"Bharat's batting has been well below-par, while his 'keeping hasn't been great either. He isn't making use of his chances. Jurel, on the other hand, is talented, has a good attitude and has a bright future. He has done well for Uttar Pradesh, India A and the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Don't be surprised if Jurel makes his Test debut at Rajkot," Times of India quoted a source as saying.

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On the other hand, Jurel has 790 runs in 15 first-class matches including a solitary hundred and five half-centuries. His highest score in the domestic circuit stands at 249. In January, Jurel scored 50 against the England Lions in Ahmedabad last month.

In other news, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is expected to play the third Test in Rajkot and will be rested for the next match in Ranchi.

Bumrah has been playing consistent Test matches for India since the start of the South Africa series in December. He has played four Test matches in a stretch including two games each against South Africa and England.

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With a hectic IPL schedule and T20 World Cup 2024 in mind, the team management wants to balance his workload to keep him fit for the season.

"He could be rested for the fourth Test in Ranchi, which means that he will be fresh and firing for the fifth and final Test in Dharamshala in early March, which could well be the decider of this closely contested series. That's the point where Bumrah's presence will make a difference," the newspaper quoted the source as saying.

In absence of Virat Kohli and awaited fitness clearance for KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja makes the situation tough for the home side to tackle the Three Lions in the third Test.