Former India cricketer Anil Kumble feels Dhruv Jurel has all the credentials to accomplish the feats that Mahendra Singh Dhoni has in his career. He lauded the wicket-keeper batter’s performance in the ongoing Test series against England.
Dhruv Jurel made his debut for India in the third Test at Rajkot. He played an impressive knock of 46 runs on his debut and followed it up with another brilliant performance in Ranchi. Jurel slammed 90 runs in the first innings, getting India closer to the first-innings lead. He also remained unbeaten in the second innings, with 39 runs, taking India home and winning the Player of the Match award.
Jurel has made a strong case for himself as India’s wicket-keeper in test cricket. Since, Rishabh Pant’s accident, India has struggled to find a permanent wicket-keeping option. KS Bharat failed to capitalise on the chances that he got. While Pant has started training for his return, Anil Kumble feels Jurel too has the credentials to achieve greater heights.
“Oh yes, there’s Rishabh Pant. We don’t know of course when he comes, comes back whenever that happens. Sooner hopefully for Rishabh. But otherwise, yes, he certainly has all the credentials to get to where MS (Dhoni) reached in his career,” Kumble said on Jio Cinema.
“But he’s shown that he’s not just shown the temperament of his technique to defence but even when he’s attacking. Even in that first innings he was very assured he went after and then hit those big sixes when he was batting with the tail and hats off even behind the stumps,” he added.
Dhruv Jurel impressed everyone with resilient knocks with the bat in both the innings 👏👏
He becomes the Player of the Match in Ranchi 🏆
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/FUbQ3MhXfH#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/SBu4LVbn7C
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 26, 2024
Dhruv Jurel has been exceptional: Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble also highlighted Dhruv Jurel’s wicket-keeping skills, especially against the fast bowlers. The youngster took three catches behind the stumps in the fourth Test at Ranchi. Kumble expressed that Jurel has been exceptional, and will only get better with experience. He said,
“He’s been exceptional. Especially of the faster bowlers. Spinners again took a couple of really good catches and he’s only going to improve. This is only his second Test and I’m sure as he starts playing more and more he’ll only get better. And it only augers well for India. And to have him in a squad is exceptional.”
“Yeah, I mean it’s not been easy for KS Bharat. But that’s why I said the selectors, having seen him with only 15 1st class games have chosen him. Saying okay, this is the person who we believe and introduced him in that last Test. And since then he’s been outstanding and he’s played the match because the batting really I always feel and I don’t want to sort of throw a dampener on this at all because that’s not my intention,” he added.
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