Dhruv Jurel has retained his spot in the India playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka, beating out competition from Sarfaraz Khan.
Sarfaraz’ inclusion as B. Sai Sudharsan’s injury replacement had prompted questions about whether he could be in line to replace Jurel in the playing XI.
Jurel has had a tough time with the bat over the last year. Since the start of the South Africa series in 2025, he has produced just 39 runs in five outings. He managed scores of 1 and 17 in the warm-up match against SLC XI.
However, he did produce an unbeaten 141 and a half-century at Galle with the India A team just prior to the score.
Sarfaraz has not been part of the Indian squad since the New Zealand Tests in late 2024. However, he had another strong season in the Ranji Trophy, and his prowess against spin made him an attractive option for the role.
Jurel’s inclusion also means that there is no space for Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain, who is in the squad for the first time in this series.
Published on Aug 15, 2026
