As Team India sweats it out ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium from Saturday, the biggest contest may not be against the Islanders but within the dressing room itself. The arrival of chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Colombo on Tuesday underlines the importance of the decisions that await the team management.With India’s World Test Championship hopes hanging in the balance, getting the playing XI right could be the difference between staying in contention for a place in the final and seeing the remainder of the cycle turn into a mere formality. The key questions revolve around the middle order and the bowling attack.
Sarfaraz or Jurel for No. 6?
The selection debate that has generated the most discussion centres on the No. 6 position. Devdutt Padikkal’s unbeaten 142 in the warm-up game has virtually sealed the No. 3 slot vacated by the injured Sai Sudharsan. That leaves the management with a straight choice between Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel. Former India wicketkeeper and ex-chief selector Kiran More believes Jurel’s previous Test experience may give him the edge.“I think Jurel will play ahead of Sarfaraz because he has already played Test cricket and done well. He’s a good fielder too. Sarfaraz has come in later and will get opportunities,” More told TOI.Jurel’s overall record is respectable. In 10 Tests, he has scored 478 runs at 34.14, including a century and a fifty. However, the concern is not just the numbers but the manner of his dismissals, especially against spin.His recent outings have done little to strengthen his case. After shining in the unofficial Test against South Africa A, Jurel struggled in the subsequent Test series, returning scores of 14, 13, 0 and 2. Veteran off-spinner Simon Harmer repeatedly exposed his vulnerability, dismissing him in both innings of each Test.The trend continued in Sri Lanka. Jurel managed scores of one and 17 in the warm-up match and was dismissed cheaply by off-spinner Ramesh Mendis. On a Galle track that is expected to turn, India’s think tank will be wary of taking a batter into the series with visible doubts against spin.Former India batter Mohammad Kaif feels Sarfaraz should be the preferred choice. “If India stick to backing players who have already been around the side, then Jurel could get the nod. But if you ask me for the best XI, Sarfaraz is in it because of his ability against spin,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel. Few Indian batters have built their reputation against spin as convincingly as Sarfaraz. His first-class record is extraordinary. He averages 64.73 with 5,114 runs and 17 centuries in 62 matches.
What will the bowling attack look like?
The other dilemma concerns India’s bowling combination. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna look certain to lead the pace attack in the opening Test. The bigger question is whether India opt for a third seamer or strengthen the spin department. Conventional wisdom suggests Sri Lankan pitches favour spin, but former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan believes seamers can also be effective.“Whenever I played in Sri Lanka, there was always a bit more zip in the wickets. In humid conditio-ns, the ball also tends to move arou-nd,” Pathan had told TOI recently.Kiran More expects India to field three pacers unless Galle produces an outright raging turner.“My three seamers would be Siraj, Krishna and Gurnoor Brar. Since Nitish Kumar Reddy is unavailable, India need that extra pace option,” More said. If More’s formula is followed, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav would operate as the two frontline spinners.
