India A team to play South Africa A: Pant captain

[BacktoCricaddict]

Jurel is in invincible form. He has great technique and patience. We must start Padikkal against SA.

 

[Gollum]

Jurel wow, give him an extended run in the main team. 

[Gollum]

2 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

I think 3 is not good. We may get less output. He looks uber comfortable against older ball. WHy change it.

Even that 'less output' will be much better than Sai's garbage returns. 

[Gollum]

Such a well-organized, complete batsman he is. Jurel is the closest we have to Root, technique-wise. 

[lemsip]

2 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

I think 3 is not good. We may get less output. He looks uber comfortable against older ball. WHy change it.

Every batsman looks Uber comfortable Vs the old ball. Jurel has the technique and for him to play as a pure batsman the slot available is at 3. He seems better equipped technically to handle it long term compared to Sai. Jurel has to be considered a pure batsman while pant is also a core part of the team.

[BacktoCricaddict]

2 hours ago, Gollum said:

Jurel wow, give him an extended run in the main team. 

Just hoping that he is seen as a specialist bat rather than getting pigeonholed into the reserve keeper role. They can choose someone else to cover that, if necessary. Like Aryan Juyal or someone.

[New guy]

5 hours ago, Gollum said:

Such a well-organized, complete batsman he is. Jurel is the closest we have to Root, technique-wise. 

It's so important to not waste time when a batsman is in top form but have him in the team immediately.

Edited November 8, 2025 by New guy

[bsriharsha]

I'd pick Jurel over Pant for this series. 

 

Pant is still returning from injury. Probably needs some more time for him to build himself back to full fitness.

[rollingstoned]

Yea if Pant is still carrying some injury then jurel might be the keeper for the first 2. 

A proper crisis batsmen like him is rare and should be included immediately. 

[Lone Wolf]

15 hours ago, Gollum said:

Such a well-organized, complete batsman he is. Jurel is the closest we have to Root, technique-wise. 

Root himself said in RR Jurel used to take tips from him.

Their late cut behind point and weight transfer is pretty similar too.

[New guy]

4 hours ago, bsriharsha said:

I'd pick Jurel over Pant for this series. 

 

Pant is still returning from injury. Probably needs some more time for him to build himself back to full fitness.

 

1 hour ago, rollingstoned said:

Yea if Pant is still carrying some injury then jurel might be the keeper for the first 2. 

A proper crisis batsmen like him is rare and should be included immediately. 

What injury is Pant carrying? Pant literally played a match winning 91 previous match in the 4th test on a far worse pitch. 

 

I swear some of you guys need any excuse to go after our best test batsman for last 6-7 years.

 

And there is no bigger crisis man than Pant for tests.

[rollingstoned]

31 minutes ago, New guy said:

 

What injury is Pant carrying? Pant literally played a match winning 91 previous match in the 4th test on a far worse pitch. 

 

I swear some of you guys need any excuse to go after our best test batsman for last 6-7 years.

 

And there is no bigger crisis man than Pant for tests.

He went off with an injury in the 2nd innings yday and came back later. I was referring to that. 

If both are fit then both can play.

[Gollum]

1 hour ago, rollingstoned said:

Yea if Pant is still carrying some injury then jurel might be the keeper for the first 2. 

A proper crisis batsmen like him is rare and should be included immediately. 

Play both. Even if Pant has a niggle or isn't 100% fit, Jurel can do the keeping. But against this RSA, we need a maverick like Pant in the middle order. Long rest after this for our test players. 

 

I am not a fan of shoehorning players to fixed roles, like Jurel/Pant can play only as keeper or like we had in the past, Ashwin or Washi, not both. 

 

Play your best XI even if it means having 3 keepers (KL, Jurel, Pant).

[Gollum]

51 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

Root himself said in RR Jurel used to take tips from him.

Their late cut behind point and weight transfer is pretty similar too.

Just checked his dismissal in Australia, unlucky with umpire's call (both impact and wickets hitting). Did well against Aus A before that. Pity he hasn't been given a long run while we kept going back to the likes of Padikkal, Karun, Sai. 

 

Guys like Jurel and Washi are as good as the best specialist bats of SENA teams, but we in India underutilize them. 

[Gollum]

I would try out Washi as #3 and play Jurel down the order, because Jurel bats better with the tail and is an elite strokeplayer.

 

Jaiswal

KL

Washi

Gill

Pant

Jaddu

Jurel

Axar

Kuldeep

Bumrah

Siraj

 

Axar even if he doesn't bowl is as good as a specialist batsman at home, like he showed in 2023 BGT. This XI has all bases covered.  

 

Play Akashdeep instead of Axar if you wanna give a greener pitch, but why do that against Rabada?

[Sooda]

1 hour ago, New guy said:

 

What injury is Pant carrying? Pant literally played a match winning 91 previous match in the 4th test on a far worse pitch. 

 

I swear some of you guys need any excuse to go after our best test batsman for last 6-7 years.

 

And there is no bigger crisis man than Pant for tests.

 

He had to retire hurt in the A match and the reporting suggests he has struggled with his keeping 

[Manucrick]

Kuldeep looks toothless not taking wicket give to many runs to

[deepdynamo]

1 hour ago, Gollum said:

I would try out Washi as #3 and play Jurel down the order, because Jurel bats better with the tail and is an elite strokeplayer.

 

Jaiswal

KL

Washi

Gill

Pant

Jaddu

Jurel

Axar

Kuldeep

Bumrah

Siraj

 

Axar even if he doesn't bowl is as good as a specialist batsman at home, like he showed in 2023 BGT. This XI has all bases covered.  

 

Play Akashdeep instead of Axar if you wanna give a greener pitch, but why do that against Rabada?

 

I will give Sai another two test matches to see what he can do. So Sai in place of Axar, Jurel in lower middle order and the team is set vs SA.

 

If Sai fails, he need to be dropped altogether and continue the search for another batsman.

[Lone Wolf]

Pitch has completely flattened out.  That's what happens on these low grade venues when you leave grass.

[Gollum]

29 minutes ago, deepdynamo said:

If Sai fails, he need to be dropped altogether and continue the search for another batsman.

Been a long search tbh, for the #3 spot, since 2021 when Pujara's irreversible decline set in.