Dhruv Jurel scores back-to-back tons for India A in 2nd unofficial Test against South Africa A

New Delhi: Dhruv Jurel has once again shifted the spotlight towards him. The young wicketkeeper-batter is making a strong case for inclusion in India's playing XI for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. His performance in the ongoing second unofficial Test for India A has been nothing short of exceptional with centuries in both innings against South Africa A.

Jurel first made his mark in the opening innings with a fighting knock of 132 off 175 balls when he rescued India A from 126 for seven. His innings included 12 boundaries and four sixes and was the backbone of India's 255-run total. But the 24-year-old wasn't done yet as in the second innings he took from where he left, scoring another century, this time coming off 159 deliveries. He brought up the milestone in the 86th over off Tiaan van Vuuren's bowling, further underlying his growing maturity as a red-ball player.

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While Jurel has grabbed headlines, Sai Sudarshan's form has gone the other way. The left-hander managed to score 17 and 23 in the two innings and was clearly struggling to convert starts into anything substantial. Sudarshan's struggle comes at a time when competition for batting spots is heating up. With Rishabh Pant back to full fitness, Jurel's role could have been limited to backup duties.

Meanwhile, captain Rishabh Pant had a mixed outing. After taking multiple blows on Day 3, he briefly walked off for treatment before bravely returning to bat. Despite his attacking style, he went for his shots, lifting the scoring rate and showing glimpses of his trademark intent.

However, KL Rahul continued to struggle for rhythm, scoring 27 and 19 in his two innings. The management will be hoping for a turnaround before the first Test begins on November 14 in Kolkata.

India have already made a minor tweak to their squad, bringing in Akashdeep in place of Prasidh Krishna. With the Eden Gardens Test fast approaching, Dhruv Jurel's back-to-back centuries have added a new layer to India's selection puzzle making it a tough task for captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir.