Dhruv Juraral fails in a safe place in Xi despite ticking all boxes

Dhruv Jurel’s wait to play his 5th Test continues as was left out from India’s playing XI for the 1st Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. The keeper-batter has been in the form of his life, delivering consistent performances with the bat leading up to the five-match series. Shubman Gill decided to go with Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair in the playing XI for the game, leaving out the likes of Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abhimanyu Easwaran.

ENG vs IND 1st Test: Jurel left out despite doing no wrong

Jurel last played in a Test for India in the 1st Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In that game, he managed to get scores of 11 and 1 following which he was benched. In 4 Tests that the keeper-batter has played so far, he has amassed 202 runs, including one fifty and averages 40.40. In fact, he was handed his debut against the same England which toured India in early 2024.

Jurel’s run-scoring spree began in IPL 2025, where he essayed the role of a finisher for Rajasthan Royals to perfection. In 14 matches, he scored 333 runs, averaging 37. It included two half-centuries and a highesst score of 70.

His fine form continued in the India A vs England Lions series as well. He narrowly missed out on a well-deserved century in the 1st inniings of the 1st unofficial Test as he was dismissed for 94. In the 2nd innings, he stayed unbeaten on 53 runs. In the 2nd unofficial Test, he scored yet another fifty in the 1st innings, standing out with a 52-run knock. He followed it up with a 28-run knock in the 2nd innings.

While his performance in the intra-squad game between India and India A in Beckenham is unknown, his form surely warranted for a spot in India’s playing XI in the 1st Test in Leeds. It remains to be seen if he will be given any chance in the upcoming games.