India have named a 16-man squad for the first two Tests of the upcoming series against England, with uncapped wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel the most notable inclusion.
Avesh Khan is the other player included who is yet to play a Test match, though the 27-year-old right-arm quick does have 27 white-ball caps for India.
Jurel is one of three wicketkeepers included in the squad, with the position of India’s first-choice gloveman unclear in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who is still recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident in late 2022. KL Rahul took the gloves during India’s 1-1 series draw with South Africa, and is a regular wicketkeeper in white-ball cricket. However, those appearances were his second and third as designated wicketkeeper in all first-class cricket, and there are concerns over his capabilities behind the stumps in spinning conditions.
KS Bharat had the gauntlets for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and World Test Championship final, and is rated as the superior gloveman, but averages 18 with a high score of 44 from five Tests. Ishan Kishan, who kept in the West Indies, has fallen from contention.
Jurel is a middle-ground option, a regular gloveman with a stellar early first-class record. After 15 games, he averages 46.47 with a high score of 249. He made 63 and 69 in his last two innings before his call-up, for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy and for India A in South Africa respectively.
🚨 INDIA TEST SQUAD ANNOUNCED 🚨
Dhruv Jurel and Avesh Khan are the two uncapped players included.
Thoughts?#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/TcA3mytqmk
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 12, 2024
Elsewhere, India’s squad is as expected. Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli will make up the top four, with Shreyas Iyer or KL Rahul at No.5. If Rahul keeps, there may be room for both.
If India require five bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja can bat at No.6 or No.7, with the chosen keeper taking the other spot. R Ashwin will take a spin spot, and Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah will take two pace spots. Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar and Avesh will all compete for the final place in the XI.
The squad named is for the the first two Tests only, with the first taking place at Hyderabad from January 25.
India squad for first two England Tests: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan.
