India, Nov. 8 -- Dhruv Jurel is making a strong case for himself to be included in India's playing XI for the first Test against South Africa as a specialist batter. The right-hander scored back-to-back centuries in India A's second unofficial Test against South Africa A, and the pressure is firmly on skipper Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir to make a place for him. Jurel played in the series against the West Indies in the absence of Rishabh Pant, but since the latter has recovered from his injury, the youngster's place is in limbo.

However, Jurel is doing whatever he can as he returned with scores of 132* and 127* in the second unofficial Test. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel believes that the 24-year-old has do...