KS Bharat‘s time with the Indian Test team could well be up amid reports that Dhruv Jurel is set to make his debut in the 3rd Test against England. The Indian team management’s faith in KS Bharat might just be starting to shake as the wicketkeeper is all set to be replaced by the young Dhruv Jurel in the playing 11 for the Rajkot Test.
KS Bharat has taken up India’s wicketkeeping role since Rishabh Pant’s injury and while he is a pretty safe bet with the gloves, his batting has been far from convincing. In 7 Tests, Bharat hasn’t scored a single half-century and his vulnerability against quality bowling attacks has borderline reduced him to a walking wicket.
To be played in Indian condition, where the pitches are mostly conducive for spin attack , the Indian team selectors led by former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar , decided to form a team which comprises of four specialist spinners. However sparks and buzz grew further when in addition to already present KL Rahul selected KS Bharat and newbie Dhruv Jurel as three wicket keepers for the first two matches ignoring the likes of Ishan Kishan.
Team India’s gloveman KS Bharat underwhelming performance with the bat
First-choice wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is yet to regain fitness after sustaining multiple injuries in the horrific car crash in December 2022. In his absence, KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan have performed keeping duties in the longest format over the last 14 months.
With Kishan being overlooked in the Indian squad since pulling out of the South Africa Test tour last December, KS Bharat got the nod for the first two England Tests. Dhruv Jurel was the other gloveman in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England.
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, Bharat amassed 101 runs across four Tests against Australia. He also featured in the WTC final and returned with scores 5 and 23.
Subsequently, Bharat was left out of the playing XI during the tour of West Indies, where Kishan performed the keeping duties in the two-Test series. Bharat didn’t get a chance during the recent tour of South Africa too as KL Rahul kept wickets for the first time in Test cricket.
Given a chance in the Indian team for the first two test matches versus England ,KS Bharat has failed to live up to the expectations, registering scores of 41, 28, 17 and 6 in the first two Tests in Hyderabad and Vizag.
As India prepares for the third Test against England in Rajkot, the spotlight is on wicket-keeper K S Bharat. KS Bharat’s performance behind the stumps has been on point and one commentator hailed him along with England ‘keeper Ben Foakes for their ‘keeping. It’s Bharat’s batting that is in focus.
Dhruv Jurel, a surprise inclusion in India’s team for the first two Tests, has been making waves with impressive domestic performances. The 22-year-old Uttar Pradesh player, known for his finishing abilities, has been on the selectors’ radar for the wicket-keeping role in Tests. The Rajasthan Royals player has showcased his talent in various formats, scoring 790 runs in 15 matches at an average of 46. His recent contributions in domestic cricket and the India A tour of South Africa have bolstered his case for a Test debut.
Team India glovesman KS Bharat has been under the scanners following his underwhelming show with the bat in the first two Tests against England. Bharat was picked as a specialist wicketkeeper but he failed to impress with the bat in crunch situations, meanwhile, his wicketkeeping was also under-par on a few occasions. Former wicketkeeper now commentator Parthiv Patel has expressed his dilemma over selection of Dhruv Jurel over KS Bharat.
Former Indian wicket keeper Parthiv Patel in dilemma over choosing KS Bharat and new age sensation Dhruv Jurel
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel said it would be very difficult and tricky to pick one between KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel and solve the ‘instability’ in the team ahead of the third Test against England, which begins on Thursday.
Although Bharat was decent behind the stumps in the first two Tests, he recorded scores of 41, 28, 17 and six, making it seven straight innings since his debut without a fifty. Jurel, 23, hasn’t played any international cricket yet but is considered among the best wicketkeeper-batting talents in the country.
Although media reports have suggested that the team management has run out of time for Bharat, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to confirm anything officially.
“Bharat has definitely kept brilliantly in this series so far and in the Australia series as well,” Parthiv said on a Jio Cinema interaction.
“As far as runs are concerned, yes you want runs from him. There is no doubt over it. You are expected to score runs and that is something which hasn’t come in big numbers,”
“It’s very difficult what you’re looking at. You want runs from him without a doubt. It’s up to team management. Yes there is instability at this point of time, you cannot deny that. But you got to take chances with whoever you have. I think they are the two best possible wicket-keepers for India to play test at this point of time,” he added.
Parthiv continued:
“But if you look at his 41 in the Hyderabad Test match in the first innings, and in the second innings when everyone got out, he scored along with Ashwin just gave us a glimpse of hope. In Vizag, he failed without a doubt. So it’s a very tricky one whether India stick to Bharat for one more Test or just try out a youngster (Jurel) who’s done well at domestic level…”
In 15 First-Class matches, Jurel has scored 790 runs at an average of 46.47.
Parthiv Patel expresses his views on Ishan Kishan
Another keeper that could have been in contention is Ishan Kishan. However, the left-hander took a break late last year and has been out of action since, which has fueled speculation and a truckload of criticism based on reports.
Parthiv, however, refrained from making any such remarks.
“It’s entirely up to a player. No one knows what’s happening sitting here. I would rather stay away from speculating on personal matters. It’s entirely their (BCCI and Kishan’s) call,” he said.
The BCCI has reportedly given a mandate to Kishan to appear for his state team Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy match on February 16.India plays England at Rajkot after a 10 day break and will hope to go 2-1 up post the test irrespective of whether KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel gets the chance in playing 11.