With Rishabh Pant ruled out of the final Test at The Oval due to a finger injury, young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel is likely to return to the Indian playing XI. Jurel, who had stepped in as a substitute wicketkeeper after Pant’s injury during the Lord’s Test, hasn’t yet featured in the starting XI this series. However, with KL Rahul focusing solely on his role as an opener and not expected to take up wicketkeeping responsibilities, the door seems open for Jurel to take on the gloves in the upcoming Test.

Jurel’s childhood coach, Parvinder Yadav, shared in an interview with Times of India that Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir had a long and encouraging conversation with the young player. According to Parvinder, Gambhir was highly impressed with Jurel’s wicketkeeping and told him to stay prepared as his opportunity was near. He even went as far as to say that Dhruv is the “backbone of India’s middle order,” a statement that deeply motivated the cricketer. Gambhir also praised Jurel’s ability to bat anywhere from number five to eight, reinforcing his potential as a versatile middle-order asset.

Parvinder admitted it was unfortunate that Pant is injured, but emphasized that this is a golden opportunity for Jurel to prove himself. He said the young cricketer is focused and ready, eagerly awaiting the moment he gets to make his mark again. Jurel made his Test debut against England last year under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and has already shown promise, scoring 202 runs in four matches at an average of 40.40. With the Oval Test approaching, Jurel appears poised to return—not just as a fill-in, but as a player who has earned the trust and belief of Indian cricket’s leadership.