IND vs SA 2025: The build-up to India’s next assignment has gathered pace again. Fans have begun to discuss selection ideas, early impressions, and how the squad might settle in the opening Test against South Africa. The focus has landed on a small but significant part of the line-up, and it concerns the balance of the middle order.
Former cricketer Parthiv Patel spoke during a segment on Star Sports and sketched a possible XI for the first Test, which will start on 14 November in Kolkata. He placed Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul at the top, forming a left-right start that promises both caution and early scoring.
He then suggested Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, followed by Shubman Gill at No. 4, a pairing that offers control in the middle phase. Further down, he placed Rishabh Pant at No. 5, marking his return to the format with a central role.
What did Parthiv Patel say about India's number six spot against South Africa?
Everything looked set until the No. 6 position came into the picture. Parthiv highlighted that this single slot could influence the shape of the match. If Nitish Kumar Reddy plays, India may gain an additional seam option early in conditions that often reward movement.
This would then allow three spinners to come into play later, a setup that has worked before on surfaces that slow down. On the other hand, Dhruv Jurel offers stable batting credentials and has already shown adaptability whenever the team asked him to step into a challenge. Parthiv stated that both players have strong cases, which makes the decision a genuine puzzle for the management.
"Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will open. Sai Sudharsan will be at No. 3, Shubman Gill at No. 4, and then you will see Rishabh Pant playing at No. 5. The No. 6 position is slightly tricky. Otherwise, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah," stated Parthiv in a discussion with Star Sports.
"There will be only one question for India, and that will be at No. 6, whether you want to play Nitish Reddy or Dhruv Jurel. It will be an early start in Kolkata. Can Nitish Reddy play the role of the third seamer? Then you can use Nitish Reddy with two seamers and three spinners will come in the second innings," Parthiv opined.
"Whether it was against West Indies or wherever and whichever position Jurel has gotten to bat in, he has scored runs. If your combination is that you want to play an all-rounder, then he might not get a place. However, if you want to play a pure batter, Jurel can play there, and this management has already shown that kind of confidence in him once. I feel Jurel has done enough to be considered as a batter in the Test team," he concluded.
Balancing skill and certainty
Parthiv’s opinion carried a sense of measured caution. He noted that Jurel has scored in various conditions and situations, often without fuss and with a calm head. That quality alone gives him a base claim as a pure batter at No. 6, especially if the team chooses to add stability in the early part of the innings.
However, if the team management believes that the match might stretch in a direction where a third seamer becomes valuable, Reddy steps forward as a genuine solution who can contribute with both disciplines.
