It seems like KS Bharat is nearing the end of his time as India's first-choice wicketkeeper in Tests in Rishabh Pant's absence, with Dhruv Jurel touted to make his India debut in the third Test against England in Ranji, according to a report by Times of India.
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Bharat has been India's primary preference for the wicketkeeping spot in India's all-whites in the absence of Pant, who has been sidelined due to an injury in late December 2023.
The 30-year-old Andhra player made his Test - and international - debut for India in the first Test against Australia in 2023. He went on to feature in all four Tests, but notched very mediocre returns, scoring just 129 runs in six innings.
The writing is now on the wall as far as Bharat's future in Tests is concerned; having played the first two games against England and not proving his mettle with the bat has urged the team management to look for alternatives.
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Dhruv Jurel likely to make India debut in third Test vs England
Jurel is likely to be in line for his India debut by replacing Bharat in the third Test against England, which will be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
Bharat has been underwhelming since making his India debut, failing to score a single half-century in his seven Tests / 12 innings.
“Bharat’s batting has been well below par while his keeping hasn’t been great either. He isn’t making use of his chances, Jurel on the other hand is talent as a good attitude and has a bright future. He has done well for Uttar Pradesh, India A and the Rajasthan Royals in IPL. Don’t be surprised if Jurel makes his Test debut at Rajkot,” a BCCI source told TOI.
The standard for an Indian wicketkeeper has been significantly raised in the past decade, with MS Dhoni, Wriddhiman Saha, and more recently Rishabh Pant all making noteworthy contributions with the bat.
Jurel, who made his Ranji Trophy debut for Uttar Pradesh in February 2022, has been impressive in first-class cricket.
The 23-year-old has scored 790 runs in 15 FC matches, scoring five fifties and a century, including a 249-run knock.
In his recent games for India A, which were four-day games against South Africa A and England Lions, Jurel scored a half-century each, further showcasing his skills and making a statement with his performances.
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Dhruv Jurel vs KS Bharat: Comparing their numbers
Let's take a look at Jurel's first class numbers and Bharat's Test cricket numbers:
| Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | S.R. | 50s | 100s | HS |
| KS Bharat (India) | 7 | 12 | 221 | 20.09 | 52.99 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Dhruv Jurel (Ranji) | 15 | 19 | 790 | 46.47 | 56.63 | 5 | 1 | 249 |
What next for India?
With the series level at 1-1, India and England will take each other on in the third Test in Rajkot from February 15.
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