Former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has advocated for Dhruv Jurel’s inclusion in India’s playing XI for the upcoming Test series against South Africa, starting November 14 in Kolkata.

Jurel’s prolific run in the unofficial Test for India A against South Africa A in Bengaluru, where he slammed centuries in both innings (132* and 127*), has stirred the selection debate.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra suggested that Jurel deserves a place in the lineup but not at the expense of premier wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant.

“The team has been selected and both Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant are there. Rishabh Pant will play. Rishabh Pant is the vice-captain. So he is going to play and he should play. He is a generational talent if you talk about Test cricket, but I feel Dhruv Jurel should also be played. A place should be created for him in the XI,” Chopra said.

According to Chopra, the team management could consider altering the middle order to accommodate Jurel.

“The question will be whether you will compromise Sai Sudharsan from the top or Nitish Kumar Reddy from below. I think Sai Sudharsan should be allowed to play at No. 3. You haven't got Nitish Kumar Reddy to do his job properly thus far. So you can actually sacrifice him and keep Dhruv Jurel there,” he added.

Jurel’s recent exploits has not only boosted his individual credentials but also given India a welcome selection dilemma ahead of the South Africa series.

Legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also threw his weight behind the young wicketkeeper on social media, writing, “Dhruv Jurel is making it very hard for the coach and captain to drop him from the Test match coming up. 100s in both innings of the unofficial test against SA A’.”

Dhruv Jurel has played 7 Tests so far, scoring 430 runs at an average of 47.77 with one hundred and a half-century to his name.