New Delhi, August 13: Former Indian batsman Venkatesh Prasad has expressed his preference for Sarfaraz Khan over Dhruv Jurel in the playing eleven for the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting Saturday. He emphasized the need for a key middle-order batsman who can effectively tackle the host team’s spin bowling attack.
As India gears up to face Sri Lanka, the selection dilemma lies between Devdutt Padikkal, Jurel, and Sarfaraz, with two of them set to make the cut. With Sai Sudharsan unavailable, Padikkal is expected to secure the number three spot, making the real competition between Jurel and Sarfaraz.
“I believe in Test matches, you should opt for specialist players. Dhruv Jurel has performed well as a wicketkeeper-batsman and can score runs. However, Sarfaraz Khan has also shown impressive form. Therefore, if you have selected him as a specialist batsman for Test cricket, I would prefer to go with him. He is also a strong player against spin and could be an attacking option,” Raman stated in a special interview with Sony Sports Network.
Raman added that Sarfaraz brings another valuable skill to the team: his exceptional catching ability, which could be crucial if Sri Lanka prepares spin-friendly pitches.
Both Jurel and Sarfaraz made their Test debuts against England in Rajkot in February 2024, but their journeys have diverged significantly since then. Jurel has been a regular part of the team as Rishabh Pant’s backup wicketkeeper, occasionally playing as a specialist batsman.
On the other hand, a fit-again Sarfaraz has been called up to replace the injured Sudharsan, marking his return to the Indian Test team after a long absence. Raman also supported Padikkal batting at number three, noting his outstanding unbeaten 142 runs in a three-day warm-up match against the Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the NCC Ground in Colombo. “Trying out other options could be appealing, but I believe Padikkal deserves to play, especially given that he is a top-order batsman,” he said.
He further remarked, “He is regarded as a strong player in red-ball cricket, and having a left-handed batsman at number three will be advantageous. He has scored significantly across all formats. In summary, he has done enough to earn a spot in the playing eleven.”
The two-match Test series against Sri Lanka is crucial for the Indian team as they aim to stay in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Currently, India sits fifth in the WTC points table.
The former Indian cricketer concluded, “There is little room for error here, as the team is at a stage where they must perform at their best. If I’m correct, they have about seven Test matches left. They need to win at least five or six, as was mentioned regarding India’s chances of reaching the final last time. This is why there is little room for mistakes. They must deliver their best performance in the upcoming Test matches over the next three to four months.”
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