# Ashwin says Dhruv Jurel, not Sarfaraz, should play first Test 2026-08-14T09:16:20+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said Dhruv Jurel deserves the No. 6 batting spot over Sarfaraz Khan in the first Test against Sri Lanka. Sarfaraz was added to the squad only as an injury replacement for Sai Sudharsan. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin urged coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar to give Sarfaraz a clear message about his role. He noted that if the management thinks Sarfaraz is suspect in certain conditions, they should tell him directly. Ashwin added that with proper chances and clarity, Sarfaraz could become a specialist against spin in the subcontinent. ## Coverage - sports.ndtv.com Tags: Ajit Agarkar, Dhruv Jurel, Gautam Gambhir, India vs Sri Lanka Test, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sarfaraz Khan Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ashwin-says-dhruv-jurel-not-sarfaraz-should-play-first-test/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ashwin-says-dhruv-jurel-not-sarfaraz-should-play-first-test/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.