Dhruv Jurel has been added to the Indian Test squad for the first two matches of the series against England to be played from 25th January 2024. The major omission includes Mohammed Shami who has not recovered yet while Ishan Kishan has been not included in the squad.
Uttar Pradesh’s Dhruv Jurel has been included in the 16-member squad along with KL Rahul and KS Bharat as wicketkeeper options. Jurel was a part of the India A team that played in two unofficial test matches against South Africa A in 2023 December.
Jurel scored well complied 69 runs in the second match at Benoni. He showed his class with 63 runs in the first innings against Kerala during first-round matches of the 2023/24 Ranji Trophy season played at Alappuhzha. He has been picked as the third wicketkeeper for the two test matches.
Dhruv Jurel was the vice-captain of the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2020. Indian team reached the finals losing to Bangladesh.
Jurel made his first-class debut against Vidarbha on 17th Feb 2022. He scored well and complied 64 runs in the first innings while getting out cheaply for 4 runs in the 2nd innings. The match ended in a draw with Vidarbha earning 3 points due to first innings lead.
He has played 15 matches so far (19 innings) and scored 790 runs at an average of 46.47 including 1 century and 5 half-centuries. His best score in first-class history has been 249.
Mother Sold Chain While Father Borrowed 800 Rs For Bat
“I used to study in Army School. During the holidays I thought about joining cricket camp at Eklavya Stadium in Agra. I filled up the form but did not tell my dad. When he came to know, he scolded me. However, he borrowed Rs 800 to buy me a cricket bat. When I told him I needed a cricket kit, Dad asked me how much it would cost. I told him about Rs six to seven thousand, and he told me to stop playing. But I was adamant and locked myself in the bathroom. Then my mom sold her gold chain and got me cricket kit,” Dhruv Jurel told Dainik Jagran.
“My friends told me that I got selected for the Indian team. When I told them that I have been selected, they asked me ‘which Indian team I got selected?’ I told them Rohit bhaiya, Virat Bhaiya wala Indian team. My whole family got emotional after hearing this.”
Indian Team For First Two Test Matches Against England:
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.