Dhruv Jurel set to make Test debut in India vs Australia 1st Test? Heartwarming Border-Gavaskar Trophy post fuels speculation

Following Dhruv Jurel's impressive performance with the bat in India A's second unofficial Test against Australia in Melbourne, there have been mounting calls for him to be considered for the senior squad for their first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. The urgency for his inclusion has only grown stronger with the news of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul potentially missing the first Test due to injuries they sustained during the intra-squad match at the WACA.

Amid all this, Jurel posted a photo on his Instagram handle with a rather heartwarming caption. “From setting alarms to catch India’s Tests in Australia to waking up alarm-free,” says Jurel in the caption for the post that had shots of him in his jersey for the series.

A post shared by J U R E L (@dhruvjurel)

Jurel put in some exceptional performances with the bat and with gloves in the five-match Test series at home against England earlier this year. Making his Test debut in the third Test after an injury to Rahul, Jurel scored 90 runs largely batting with the tail in India's first innings which helped them avoid handing England too big a lead. He then saw India through to victory with Gill in the second innings by scoring an unbeaten 39 off 77 balls and was declared player of the match. Overall, Jurel has scored 190 runs at an average of 63.33 with one half-century in four Test innings.

It emerged on Saturday that Gill fractured his left thumb while fielding during the intra-squad match at the WACA. This came just a day after Rahul was struck by a ball and was unable to come out to bat further on Day 1. As per a report in Sydney Morning Herald, Virat Kohli was also impeded by an injury concern, but was found to be "fine" after undergoing scans.

A thumb fracture generally takes roughly around 14 days to heal. As of now, it is expected that the right-handed batter will be available for the 2nd Test in Adelaide, set to begin on December 6. India A were all out for 161 runs in their first innings against Australia A in Melbourne and Jurel alone scored 80 runs in 186 balls in a knock that earned him plaudits across the board. Jurel then scored 68 off 122 in the second innings as India A lost the match by six wickets.