Dhruv Jurel replaces Shubman Gill at No.3 as India playing XI for Perth Test announced by Sanjay Manjrekar

As India gears up for the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, Sanjay Manjrekar has unveiled his starting XI for the first Test, set to begin on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

With the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma missing the Perth Test following the arrival of his second child and Shubman Gill sidelined due to a thumb injury, the defending champions face a selection dilemma for the much-awaited Test series opener.

Sanjay Manjrekar's surprising India XI for Perth Test: Abhimanyu Easwaran to open and Dhruv Jurel at No. 3

While the leadership baton has been passed to Jasprit Bumrah, the focus remains on who will open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal at the Optus Stadium. However, Sanjay Manjrekar has a bold suggestion, as he backed Abhimanyu Easwaran to make his Test debut and open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Perth Test against Australia.

Despite competition from established names like KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal, Manjrekar believes that Abhimanyu Easwaran’s exceptional first-class performances make him the most ideal option at the top. The former Indian batter said that ignoring his solid record would be a mistake.

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But that’s not all, as Sanjay Manjrekar has thrown in another surprise by selecting the young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel at the crucial No. 3 spot in the absence of injured Shubman Gill. Jurel’s impressive performances for India A, including twin fifties against Australia A, have caught Manjrekar’s eye, saying the youngster is ready to step up in this high-pressure role.

I'll stick with Abhimanyu Easwaran at the top: Manjrekar

Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo: “I said in the past as well, try and do the right thing. You picked him as an opener because of his tremendous performance at the first-class level. And if you're not going to value that and go buy a couple of warmup matches in conditions that you've been exposed to for the first time, it's not the right thing to do, and it's not like KL Rahul. An opening option is setting the stage on fire, so I'll stick with Easwaran at the top for those reasons.”

He added, “It's really about somebody who's feeling a little bit comfortable in those conditions, and Jurel has looked better in the warmer games in the past as well. In Test might look the part. He's got a good first-class record, so just based on a current performance and being, you know, smart about the resources available, I'd rather have him at number three than somebody like KL Rahul.”

Manjrekar's XI: Abhimanyu to open, Jurel at No.3. Hear me out. ☺️ https://t.co/cltmrNAXV8

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 19, 2024

Meanwhile, the rest of India’s batting line-up is expected, as Majrekar picked Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul at No. 4, 5, and 6, respectively, in his playing XI for the Perth Test against Australia. The cricket pundit also picked two spin all-rounders in his playing XI, giving the number seven spot to the seasoned left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

Sanjay Manjrekar demands Washington Sundar's inclusion in India's Playing XI for Perth Test

Well, Manjrekar argued that India should sacrifice a pace bowler to include the in-form all-rounder Washington Sundar as the second spinner in the playing XI for the first Test in Perth. He highlighted Sundar's impressive performances against New Zealand, where he took 16 wickets across two Tests and also contributed with the bat, scoring 88 runs.

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The commentator explained, “Well, there’s a track record of Indian cricket trusting the spinners. One in 1977, when India played three spinners, and it was a very close Test match. More recently, Kumble and Sehwag have been playing as spinners. Sehwag got a couple of wickets, [including] Adam Gilchrist.

So, I believe that if you’ve got quality bowlers, and after the kind of performance Washi showed in that last series. I mean, who has the heart and wants to drop somebody like him, plus the kind of batting depth he had? So, I would rather sacrifice a pace bowler and have somebody like Washi.”

Can’t drop Washy after the last series at home. Right? https://t.co/qFa7AoF49w

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 19, 2024

In the end, Manjrekar picked Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep as his pacers while saying he could "stand on the rooftops and defend his playing eleven.".

Here's Sanjay Manjrekar's Playing XI for the 1st Test:

Abhimanyu Easwaran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep.