India recorded their third biggest Test victory over the West Indies at the world’s biggest ground, the Narendra Modi Stadium, on October 4. The Player of the Match was Ravindra Jadeja, who shone with both bat and ball as the Windies got decimated by an innings and 140 runs. However, the biggest positive for the hosts from the game was one and only Dhruv Jurel, who once again showed that he belongs in the Test arena.
Dhruv Jurel did what he needed to
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter got an opportunity to slide into the first XI since India’s first-choice keeper, Rishabh Pant, isn’t available. Pant got his toe injured in England and is thus not available at least till the Australia white-ball series. This gave Jurel a golden chance to assert his stakes, that too, at number five. Gladly, Jurel didn’t spoil his moment.
Instead, he batted like a dream. Where the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill failed to convert their starts, Jurel’s temperament showed big time, and he played a terrific innings of 125.
What was heartening to see how composedly he batted and didn’t look troubled against anything. He usually likes to play dominantly but Jurel, this time, put a price tag on his wicket. He mostly played square of the wicket, something that the Ahmedabad pitch demanded due to good carry and bounce.
It was Jurel’s maiden century and he, through his innings, said that he shouldn’t just be looked at as a backup keeper. India now have a luxury to play him as a specialist Test batter too, something that Sunil Gavaskar wants.
Jurel to replace Sudharsan?
While speaking to India Today after the opening Test match, Gavaskar put forward his desire to watch Jurel bat at number three. The Indian legend waxed lyrical about Jurel’s temperament and technique to master the format.
“I think the biggest positive was Dhruv Jurel because he showed that he’s capable of batting anywhere in the order. What I like about the man is that he’s got the technique, sure, but he’s also got the temperament.”
Gavaskar batted for Jurel to be part of the Indian team even when Pant makes his much-awaited return. Gavaskar offered the idea of promoting Jurel at number three, a place where Sai Sudharsan is currently trying to assert his dominance. After 4 Tests, Sudharsan is yet to make the slot his own, having racked up 147 runs at a mediocre average of 21.00.
“So, he could be slotted anywhere, slotted at No. 3. It doesn’t have to be slotted at five or six, even if Rishabh comes back, and when Rishabh is okay, he comes as an automatic selection for the Test team, no question about it. So, Rishabh will bat five, and you can have Dhruv Jurel at 3; you can still have two players [as wicketkeepers]. As a batter, he can find a place in the team, and that’s the important thing,” he added.
Jurel backup ODI keeper & not Samson
Fascinatingly, Jurel has been recently rewarded by the BCCI too. After his hundred, Jurel has been included in India’s ODI squad for the Australia series as a backup keeper to KL Rahul. India had an option to include Sanju Samson as well, who made a century the last time he batted in the format. However, Jurel has been picked as Pant is injured. Ajit Agarkar backed Jurel’s inclusion due to his ability to bat lower down the order, something Samson isn’t naturally suited too.
India ODI squad for Australia
Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal
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