India’s upcoming ODI squad announcement for the New Zealand series is only days away, yet Dhruv Jurel has managed to hijack the conversation with the bat. He is putting pressure on the selectors. While the debate around the backup wicketkeeper has largely been about Rishabh Pant’s exclusion and Ishan Kishan’s resurgence, the 23-year-old from Rajasthan has quietly, and now very loudly, made his own case.
Dhruv Jurel making it count in VHT
Jurel’s unbeaten 160 off 101 balls against Baroda in Rajkot was not just a maiden List A century. It was a statement. Coming at a time when the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is preparing for crunch meetings, the knock felt like the sort of innings selectors hate ignoring. Through three Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, Jurel has piled up 307 runs at an absurd average of 153.50, with two fifties and that commanding hundred, placing him second on the tournament’s run charts (stats before Dec 31).
It also shown his growing relevance in India’s white-ball planning. Jurel has already been part of the ODI setup this year without yet earning a cap, and his consistency in domestic cricket is now impossible to brush aside. Despite the buzz building around him, Jurel’s mindset remains refreshingly simple. Speaking to The Times of India, he revealed the work behind the scenes that has shaped this purple patch.
“I don’t set too many goals for myself. I focus on the process. Even before the Vijay Hazare Trophy, when I got some time, I was batting for 4-5 hours and creating scenarios in my mind about what I can do. Whatever the result and selection may be, no one can take my hard work away from me. That’s why I work hard. It has brought me this far and will take me further.“
Those hours in the nets now show in his game awareness and control. With Pant still trying to settle back into the ODI setup and Kishan enjoying a domestic resurgence of his own, the backup wicketkeeper slot remains wide open.
Dhruv Jurel Vijay Hazare Trophy stats
- Stats: 307 Runs, 3 Inns, 153.50 Average, 140.18 Strike Rate
| Match Date | Score |
|---|---|
| vs Baroda | 160 (101) |
| vs Chandigarh | 67 (57) |
| vs Hyderabad | 80 (61) |
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