Former India batter WV Raman has backed Sarfaraz Khan to be preferred over Dhruv Jurel in India's playing eleven for the first Test against Sri Lanka, beginning in Galle on Saturday, 16 August 2026. Raman cited India's need for a specialist middle-order batter capable of attacking Sri Lanka's spin-heavy bowling attack as the key reason for his preference.

The Batting Slots at Stake

India head into the series opener with two vacant batting positions to fill from a three-player pool comprising Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, and Sarfaraz Khan. With B Sai Sudharsan unavailable due to injury, Padikkal is widely expected to slot in at number three, leaving Jurel and Sarfaraz to contest the remaining spot.

Why Raman Prefers Sarfaraz

'I would tend to think in a Test match, you will have to go for the specialist. Dhruv Jurel has done well as a wicketkeeper-batter. He gets some runs. But this man has also done well. The young boy, Sarfaraz Khan. So, I think if you have picked him in the side as a specialist batter for Test cricket, I would rather tend to go with him,' Raman said in an exclusive conversation facilitated by Sony Sports Network.

Raman also highlighted Sarfaraz's value beyond batting. 'He is also a very good player of spin. He can be an attacking option. The other thing that he will bring to the table is that he is also a good close-in catcher, and that is perhaps something that you would need, especially if Sri Lanka dishes out a turning track,' he added.

Contrasting Journeys Since Test Debut

Both Jurel and Sarfaraz made their Test debuts against England at Rajkot in February 2024, but their paths have diverged sharply since. Jurel has cemented a regular role in the setup as the primary wicketkeeping backup to Rishabh Pant, occasionally playing as a specialist batter. Sarfaraz, now reportedly in better physical condition, was recalled to the squad as a replacement for the injured Sudharsan — marking his return after going unused during the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia.

Raman Backs Padikkal at Number Three

Raman was equally emphatic about Devdutt Padikkal's case for the number three slot, pointing to his unbeaten 142 in the three-day warm-up against the Sri Lanka Cricket XI at the NCC Ground in Colombo. 'He is rated as a very good red-ball cricketer and a left-hander at three will come in handy — that's a no-brainer at all. He has got the temperament. He has churned out enough runs in all formats. I think just to put it in one line, he has done enough to warrant a place in the eleven,' Raman said.

WTC Stakes and India's Slim Margin

Shubman Gill-led India enter the series under significant pressure, currently sitting fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. A strong showing in Sri Lanka is essential to remain in contention for the WTC final. 'They hardly have any margin for error here because it's come to a stage where they need to be at their best. They have got possibly about seven Test matches. They have to win at least about five or six,' Raman said, adding that India must sustain peak form across the next three to four months of scheduled Test cricket.

The first Test between Sri Lanka and India gets underway in Galle on 15 August 2026 from 10 am IST.