Dhruv Jurel in action for the Indian cricket team© AFP
Former Australian cricket team spinner Brad Hogg believes India should stick with Dhruv Jurel as the specialist wicketkeeper in Test cricket even after Rishabh Pant fully recovers from his injuries. Pant has been missing since late 2022 after a car accident but is expected to make his return in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Hogg believes Pant has to prove himself in domestic cricket and only then be considered must come for the national team.
'I think they will stay with Jurel and not go back to Pant anytime soon. I think they will force him to play first-class cricket in the longest format so that they can ensure that his body can withstand it and ensure that, from a batting perspective, he still has the same capabilities as before accident. Brad Hogg said this on his YouTube channel.
“I really hope Pant gets back to playing Test cricket but I think it's a big risk if they send him back,” Hogg added.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav took five wickets to bowl out England for 218, with India's batsmen starting strongly on a dominant opening day for the hosts in the fifth Test on Thursday.
Yadav returned figures of 5-72 and, along with fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who took four wickets in his historic 100th Test, defeated the tourists in just 57.4 overs at the picturesque Dharamsala Stadium.
(With AFP inputs)
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