Former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer has asserted that Sarfaraz Khan needs to wait for his chances, with Dhruv Jurel being in the team for a long time. The two-Test tour will commence on Saturday, August 15, in Galle.
Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Jaffer has opined that Devdutt Padikkal, who scored a century in the warm-up fixture, will get to bat at No.3, adding that Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja will be the middle-order batters.
“Padikkal will be seen playing at three as he scored a hundred. Maybe Pant will play at five. At number six, either Sarfaraz or Dhruv Jurel. Jadeja is also there, and he will certainly play as the second spinner. It will be a toss-up between Jurel and Sarfaraz. I feel Jurel will be preferred as he has been in the team for a while. And for someone who is coming back after a while, I think he will have to wait for his opportunity. To keep the continuity, I feel Jurel should play,” Wasim Jaffer said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Additionally, Jaffer has emphasised that Ravindra Jadeja would be very handy in Sri Lankan conditions. He went on to add that Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav would form a good partnership if the surface offers a little help.
“Wherever he (Ravindra Jadeja) gets even a little help, he becomes very lethal. When the wicket is a bit good, he has some limitations. But he keeps it tight and gets through his overs quickly. He may not have those skills to get you wickets on day one and day two, but once there is some wear and tear or turn, then he becomes a lethal bowler. In Sri Lanka, he (Jadeja) and Kuldeep will form a good partnership,” he said.
“If you play only Jadeja, then it will become a little ineffective, especially away from India. But as his batting is also good, it becomes slightly difficult to drop him. But I think in Sri Lankan conditions he will be very handy,” he concluded.
