India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has confirmed that Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel will not be part of the playing XI for the upcoming first Test against Bangladesh. The match, set to begin on September 19 in Chennai, will see senior players KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant making their return to the team.
Speaking at a press conference, Gambhir praised the young talents Sarfaraz and Jurel, calling them “phenomenal players” but emphasized that their time would come. He explained that the team selects players who best fit the current XI, and with experienced players like Rahul and Pant coming back, the youngsters will have to wait for their opportunities.
“We don’t drop anyone. We just pick the players who fit the XI. Jurel is a phenomenal player, but with Pant coming in, sometimes people have to wait. Same with Sarfaraz,” Gambhir explained.
India will be hoping for a strong start in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, with Gambhir assuring fans that the youngsters’ chance to shine is not far off.