Dhruv Jurel to replace Sai Sudharsan at No.3 in Indian Test team, hints Ryan ten Doeschate

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has dropped a massive hint about the big role the team management has been planning for Dhruv Jurel after his heroics in Ahmedabad. Dhruv Jurel came into the side as Rishabh Pant’s replacement and made India’s wicketkeeper-batter position his own.

Batting at No. 5, the right-handed batter scored his maiden Test century and played a key role in India’s massive one-innings and 140-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Dhruv Jurel stakes claim in India’s middle order after stunning Test century

This show raised hopes among the Indian think tank that he could secure a place in the middle order even after Rishabh Pant returns to the Test XI. Jurel’s innings showcased his skill, temperament, and adaptability, making a strong case for him as a specialist batter in the Test line-up.

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And the assistant coach admitted that his performance also adds healthy competition in India’s top order, putting pressure on the struggling batter Sai Sudharsan. Ryan ten Doeschate revealed that Jurel has been on the Indian cricket team management’s radar for some time.

"Sai just needs to focus on believing in himself. We've obviously got a lot of belief in him to give him that No. 3 spot. He is playing pretty nicely, probably a tactical mistake the other day, which he'll be aware of - playing back to a ball so early in an innings," India coach said.

Even during India’s Test tours of England and Australia, they made efforts to integrate the 24-year-old into the plans, given his potential to strengthen the middle order. He made these revelations ahead of the second and final test against the West Indies, starting on October 10 in Delhi.

We were trying to squeeze him into the plans: Ryan ten Doeschate

Ryan ten Doeschate said at the pre-match press conference, “I'd imagine it does put pressure on Sai Sudharsan. I think Dhruv Jurel showed last week just what a good player he is. We've known that all along, how well [he could] fit into the middle order. We're really happy with the way he is tracking.”

"Sai's aware of that, and look, I don't think you pursue a career of playing cricket in India if you don't expect that sort of competition and people clawing at you, the media clawing at you, that's part and parcel of it, and we know Sai is tough enough to deal with that."

Ten Doeschate continued, “He's someone who, even in England, even a little bit in Australia, we were trying to squeeze him into the plans because we know how good he is, and obviously, with Rishabh now being injured, it's worked out quite nicely to get Dhruv some game time.”

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Dhruv Jurel proves his mettle in Tests after mixed IPL 2025 season

Despite a mixed IPL season, Dhruv Jurel’s seamless transition to the Test arena demonstrates his growth and readiness for the big stage. His century not only boosts India’s batting depth but also sends a clear message that he is ready for the big stage, according to ten Doeschate.

He signed off by saying, “But to come into the team now like he has and to score a proper hundred like that, hopefully it gives him a bit of runway, and if you look at it in a positive way, it's good that he is putting pressure on other players in the top order as well.”

Notably, Jurel has so far played 6 Tests for India but got to bat only in 9 innings, where he scored 380 runs with the help of one century and one fifty at an average of around 48 and a strike rate of 56. He has also played four T20Is for the Men in Blue but failed to make any impact, scoring only 12 runs.