Cape Town: Rising Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel will make his Test debut in the first match of the India–South Africa series, beginning this week at Newlands, Cape Town, confirmed India’s batting coach Ryan ten Doeschate on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old from Agra, who impressed in domestic cricket and the IPL with his composed batting and sharp glovework, is set to don the whites for the first time as India aim for a strong start in the two-match series.
“Yes, Dhruv will make his debut. He has shown great temperament and work ethic in training,” said ten Doeschate after India’s practice session. “He brings solid balance to our lower middle order and adds flexibility behind the stumps.”
Jurel’s selection follows the team management’s ongoing strategy to groom young talents capable of adapting across formats. With Rishabh Pant still recovering and KS Bharat short of runs, Jurel’s inclusion gives India both batting stability and keeping reliability — a combination India has sought since Pant’s injury.
The debut comes after a strong domestic run for Uttar Pradesh, where Jurel averaged over 46 in first-class cricket. His calm approach under pressure has drawn comparisons to MS Dhoni’s early days, with senior players reportedly impressed by his maturity and confidence in the nets.
According to data from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jurel has 1,526 runs from 26 first-class matches, including four centuries and nine fifties, along with 83 dismissals as wicketkeeper — highlighting his dual strength as a dependable gloveman and lower-order contributor.
India’s decision to hand him a debut comes amid a renewed focus on youth transition and depth-building ahead of the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
“Every generation brings fresh energy,” said a team source. “Jurel has been consistent at every level — he’s earned this opportunity.”
India will open their campaign against a pace-heavy South African side, with the Newlands pitch expected to offer early seam movement and bounce. The series will also test India’s overseas resilience, especially after their last tour loss in 2021–22.
The first Test begins on Friday, with Rohit Sharma leading the side and Rahul Dravid’s coaching team emphasizing aggressive but adaptable cricket under challenging conditions.
