Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Will Sarfaraz Khan replace Dhruv Jurel for Sri Lanka Tests
India's cricket team is getting ready to play Test matches in Sri Lanka.
The team has to decide who will bat in the middle order.
Two players are competing for the spot: Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel.
The pitch in Galle is expected to spin a lot, which makes batting tricky.
Sarfaraz is very good at hitting spinners and uses the sweep shot a lot.
He was picked for the tour even though he wasn't in the India A team that went to Sri Lanka earlier.
Dhruv Jurel has played for India before and scored a big century for India A, but he did poorly in a recent warm-up match.
The coaches want a batsman who can attack the spinners.
Sarfaraz now has only two practice sessions to prove he deserves to play.
Soon, the team will announce who gets the final spot.
India reached Galle on Tuesday for the Sri Lanka Tests without Jasprit Bumrah and B Sai Sudharsan; Washington Sundar is out of the first Test.
A decision remains on whether Sarfaraz Khan or Dhruv Jurel takes the No. 5 or 6 batting spot.
Sarfaraz was selected over Ruturaj Gaikwad despite not touring Sri Lanka with India A last month.
His use of the sweep shot and aggressive play against spin fit India's plans for turning tracks.
Jurel scored 1 and 17 in the warm-up game after earlier making 141* and 53 for India A in Sri Lanka.
- Who
- India's team management, deciding between batsmen Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel, with Rishabh Pant as first-choice wicketkeeper.
- What
- A selection decision over who should bat at No. 5 or 6 in the upcoming Sri Lanka Test series.
- When
- During India's preparations after the team reached Galle on Tuesday.
- Where
- Galle, Sri Lanka, where the pitch is expected to turn.
- Why
- Sarfaraz's strong record against spin on turning tracks has made Jurel's specialist batting spot uncertain.
Include Sarfaraz Khan
Keep Dhruv Jurel
Spin suitability
Include Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz is a proven player of spin who attacks spinners with sweeps and slog-sweeps, ideal for Galle's turning track.
Keep Dhruv Jurel
Jurel builds innings by waiting for bad deliveries and has shown composure at crucial moments in international cricket.
Recent form
Include Sarfaraz Khan
Jurel scored just 1 and 17 in the warm-up game and has been in a lean patch since his Ahmedabad century.
Keep Dhruv Jurel
Jurel led India A in Sri Lanka with scores of 141* and 53, while Sarfaraz has played no recent red-ball cricket and has only two net sessions to impress.
Selection signals
Include Sarfaraz Khan
Team management chose Sarfaraz over Ruturaj Gaikwad specifically for his middle-order batting against spin.
Keep Dhruv Jurel
Jurel was part of the original squad and has been playing as a specialist batsman since the West Indies series, so he may still be retained.
- Series
- India vs Sri Lanka Test series
- Contested spot
- No. 5 or No. 6 in the batting order
- Sarfaraz Khan's advantage
- Strong sweep game and aggressive batting against spin
- Dhruv Jurel's India A scores
- 141* & 14, then 53 on the Sri Lanka tour
- Jurel's warm-up scores
- 1 & 17
- Jurel's Ahmedabad century
- 125
- Absentees
- Jasprit Bumrah and B Sai Sudharsan (series); Washington Sundar (first Test)
- Sarfaraz's IPL
- Bought by Chennai Super Kings in the last IPL auction for his spin batting