Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has indicated that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is likely to be left out of the playing eleven for the opening Test against South Africa. The decision comes as wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel has shown outstanding form, scoring twin centuries in the recent unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A. With star wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant returning from injury and expected to take his place in the side, the team management faces a selection challenge in the middle order. Ten Doeschate stated that while maintaining batting depth is crucial, the team does not want to include an all-rounder just for the sake of it. Jurel's impressive recent performances make him almost certain to feature in the playing eleven alongside Pant. The first Test is scheduled to begin on Friday, November 14, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Selection Dilemma for India's Middle Order
The return of Rishabh Pant has created a selection puzzle for the Indian team management ahead of the home series. Both Jurel and Reddy had played in India's two-match Test series against the West Indies when Pant was recovering from injury. Ten Doeschate explained that given the current team combination, Reddy is unlikely to keep his spot. He mentioned that Reddy did not get an opportunity in Australia either and would probably miss out this week. The assistant coach stressed the importance of balancing batting depth with specialist bowlers, saying the team would not sacrifice a player merely to accommodate an all-rounder. Jurel's exceptional current form, demonstrated by his twin centuries for India A, makes his selection almost certain despite the wicketkeeping position being filled by Pant.
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