IND v SA 2025: ‘Nitish Kumar Reddy or Dhruv Jurel?’- Parthiv Patel highlights India’s ‘tricky’ selection conundrum

The first Test will be played in Kolkata on November 14.

Former Indian cricket wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel says that the team management should address only one issue ahead of the Test series against South Africa, which begins November 14 with the first Test in Kolkata.  

Parthiv stated that ten players virtually choose themselves for the match, but the decision between Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy for No. 6 could be difficult. While the selectors have recently placed a lot of trust in Nitish, Jurel made a strong case for himself by scoring back-to-back centuries for India A in unofficial tests against South Africa A.

“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.

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," Parthiv Patel said on Star Sports.

Jurel had recently scored his maiden Test century against the West Indies and has been pushing for his inclusion as a pure batter in the Indian Test team. His inclusion will only strengthen India’s middle order.

"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.

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.

The first test between India and South Africa will be played in Kolkata from November 14, and the second test will be played in Guwahati from November 22. The tests will be followed by three ODIs and five T20Is.