Ahead of the first Test match against South Africa, Team India`s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said that Nitish Kumar Reddy may make way for Dhruv Jurel.
Jurel has struck four centuries in his last five first-class matches, including twin hundreds against South Africa `A` in Bengaluru last week.
Earlier, with Rishabh Pant`s return to the Test side, there were questions over whether India`s think tank can find a place for Jurel. The series will also mark Pant`s first international appearance since the conclusion of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
During a media interaction, ten Doeshate said, “I think we`ve got a pretty good idea of the combination, and I don`t think you can leave them (Jurel and Pant) out for this Test, that`s the short answer. I would be very surprised if you don`t see Dhruv and Rishabh playing in this Test this week”.
“Given the way Dhruv (Jurel) has gone in the last six months, and scoring two hundreds in Bangalore last week, he is certain to play this week,” he added.
The first Test match is scheduled to be played at the Eden Gardens from Friday, followed by the second game from November 22 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
When asked about Nitish, the coach said he is a player who plays to learn, but the aim has always been to create a strategy to win the match.
“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,” said the 45-year-old former cricketer.
“But I also said strategy comes first. The primary thing is to set out a strategy to win the game. If you can accommodate giving guys a chance for development, that comes in. Our position certainly hasn`t changed on Nitish. He didn`t get much game time in Australia. But given the importance of this series and the conditions we think we`re going to face, he (Nitish Kumar Reddy) might miss out in this Test this week,” ten Doeschate added.
IND vs SA Tests: Full Squads
India: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) (VC), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (C), Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (WK).
(With PTI Inputs)