As the first Test against Sri Lanka approaches, former India batter WV Raman has expressed his preference for Sarfaraz Khan over Dhruv Jurel in the playing eleven. The match is set to begin on Saturday in Galle. Raman emphasized the need for a frontline batter in the middle order, particularly to counter Sri Lanka’s spin bowling attack.
“I would tend to think in a Test match, you will have to go for the specialist. Dhruv Jurel has done well as a wicketkeeper-batter. He gets some runs. But this man has also done well. The young boy, Sarfaraz Khan. So, I think if you have picked him in the side as a specialist batter for Test cricket, I would rather tend to go with him.
A much-fitter Sarfaraz, meanwhile, was called up as a replacement for the injured Sudharsan, thus marking his return to the side after being unused in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. “But he is also a very good player of spin. He can be an attacking option.
The other thing that he will bring to the table is that he is also a good close-in catcher, and that is perhaps something that you would need, especially if Sri Lanka dishes out a turning track,” Raman told IANS in an exclusive conversation, facilitated by Sony Sports Network, on Thursday.
Earlier reporting noted: Sarfaraz Khan , a superstar in domestic red-ball cricket, marked his return to the Indian Test team for the 2-match series against Sri Lanka, but only as an injury-replacement player. Because it’s come to a stage where they need to be at their best, “They hardly have any margin for error here. Because of the fact that he was named in the original squad, 6 spot over Sarfaraz in the team, simply.
Earlier reporting noted: “Dhruv Jurel,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel. That’s one,” he said. He can become the King of the subcontinent, become a good player of spin,” Ashwin said.
Shubman Gill-led India are under pressure to win both Tests in the series to stay in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, where they are in the fifth spot in the standings, and are expected to finalise their batting combination in the coming days. They have got possibly about seven Test matches, if I am right. They have to win at least about five or six, as was the last time somebody mentioned India’s chances of qualifying for the final. So, very little margin for error. They have got to be at their best in the next three-four months of Test cricket that they are scheduled to play,” concluded Raman. As Sarfaraz grinds in the nets, looks to impress the coach Gautam Gambhir , chief selector Ajit Agarkar , etc. with his batting, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dropped a word of caution, suggesting there’s a slim chance that the batter would even get to feature in India’s XI. For Ashwin Dhruv Jurel deserves the No. “You have brought back Sarfaraz Khan. He has come in place of Sai Sudharsan as an injury replacement. If someone feels, Sarfaraz can be suspect in some conditions, then you have to give him clarity ‘Sarfaraz, you will get an opportunity to serve the team in subcontinent conditions’. So, you don’t waste Sarfaraz’s time and focus on improving himself.
Earlier reporting noted: “And I think clear messaging to Sarfaraz Khan is also important.
