Latest news with #Jurel
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
With solid body of work in red-ball game, can Jurel make it to playing XI during England tour?
London [UK], June 18 (ANI): As discussions around India's playing eleven for the first Test against England at Leeds continue, with questions over the presence of Karun Nair, Sai Sudharsan in the playing XI, one name silently putting up work worthy of a spot in the teamsheet has been, Dhruv Jurel. Ever since his Test debut last year against England, Jurel has produced a solid body of work in first-class cricket and Test cricket alike, even though he displayed a completely different avatar for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a finisher since his debut in 2023. Before he got his Test cap from Dinesh Karthik, Jurel produced a gem of a knock against South Africa A in Benoni, scoring 69 in 166 balls in a drawn match back in December 2023. During his debut series against England last year, Jurel was one of the youngsters alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan to make his mark as a batter, scoring 190 runs in four innings across three matches, at an average of 63.33. On his debut at Rajkot, he produced a solid 46 in 104 balls. The fourth Test at Ranchi displayed the steely, determined side of this player, the son of a Kargil war soldier. He produced a brilliant 76-run stand with Kuldeep Yadav and a steady 146-ball 90, with six fours and four sixes, as he made sure India was in the match. It was only fitting that he hit the winning runs, scoring 39* in a chase of 192, stitching a 72-run stand with Shubman Gill after India was reduced to 120/5. With this 'Player of the Match' performance, Jurel became one out of many 'crisis men' for India, awaiting a regular spot. Suddenly, he became a perfect option as a back-up for superstar Rishabh Pant, displaying the toughness, balance and stability which Pant at times lacked due to his free-flowing, attacking game. He followed this up with a solid 93 in 121 balls against Mumbai in Irani Cup, battling the likes of Mohit Avasthi, Tanush Kotian and Shardul Thakur. Match ended in a draw, with Mumbai winning on basis of first innings lead in October. Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Jurel produced fine knocks of 80 and 68 against Australia A at Melbourne in testing conditions, tackling Aussie domestic veterans and internationals Michael Nesser and Scott Boland with composure and assured strokeplay beyond his age. He failed in his sole senior outing at Perth, scoring 11 and 1, falling to Mitchell Marsh and skipper Pat Cummins. Nothing worth complaining though, as India secured a massive 295 runs win under Jasprit Bumrah's captaincy. During the IPL 2024, Jurel enjoyed his most prolific season, but could not finish matches owing to lack of support from other batters or simply, some fantastic bowling. His 333 runs in 13 innings at an average of 37.00, strike rate of 156.33 and two fifties was a massive improvement and a positive for him on individual front. After RR bowed out early from the tournament, Jurel took the flight to England as a part of India A squad. He took to English conditions like fish to water, scoring rapid half-centuries (94 and 53*) in the first unofficial Test. It was followed by an equally good performance of 52 and 28 in the second game. His last six innings for India A are: 375 runs in six innings, at an average of 75.00, with five half-centuries. All of these knocks have come in England and Australia, two of the toughest places to bat. At the time of writing, he averages 48.62 in first-class cricket, with 1,462 runs in 24 matches and 34 innings, including a century and 12 fifties. In red-ball cricket, he has batted in three extremely difficult nations to navigate, England, Australia and South Africa. He has had a fine record against England and a good understanding of the team, its playing style after his debut against them. Experience of local conditions? Ticked. With concerns over Rishabh Pant's form after a disastrous IPL and workload issues after his road accident in 2023, could Jurel find some game time as a keeper? As India aims to transition smoothly from the retirements of legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, could Jurel find his way as a specialist middle-order batter?? (ANI)
Hindustan Times
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Batting skill makes Dhruv Jurel more than a back-up ‘keeper
MUMBAI In any era when you are competing for the same spot as a once-in-a-generation cricketer, you are always going to play second fiddle. In the current India Test team, Dhruv Jurel finds himself in the unenviable position of being Rishabh Pant's contemporary. Given his extraordinary feats, Pant is ensconced in the side and that can be seen in his promotion as vice-captain. For other keeper-batters in India, the best option to make a Test career alongside Pant is to do well as a pure batter. Jurel is trying to do just that. If the India A matches against England Lions are being seen as a selection test for the England Test series, the Uttar Pradesh middle-order batter will be in contention for a spot in the playing eleven even as a batter. In the first unofficial test at Canterbury, he scored 94 and 53 not out. The fine showing was backed with an impressive 52 in the first innings of the second game at Northampton. Going from India, especially after playing a long-drawn IPL, it would take some time getting used to the conditions in England. Jurel has shown a remarkable all-round game, a rare quality as a batter to be able to adapt to any condition. He played with ease in all three innings, getting his runs at a brisk pace – playing late, keeping the bat close to the body and meeting the ball under the eye while putting away any ball, which allowed him room to cut, or drive when pitched fuller, for boundaries. His 94 came off just 120 balls with 11 fours and one six. The 53 was at run-a-ball and on Friday he got his 52 off 87 balls with seven fours. In cricket, every country and ground throw up a different challenge in terms of playing surface and conditions. In the sub-continent, it is about playing spin well, and in England it is about dealing with the moving ball. In Australia, there's extra pace and bounce to deal with. The hallmark of a good batter is being able to adapt to various playing conditions and Jurel has done that superbly. The potential shown by 24-year-old Jurel is immense. In his very first series against England, at home in early 2024, he played a series of invaluable knocks, proving he has the temperament to go with the skills. Getting a chance in the absence of Pant, who was recovering from the car accident, he made his mark immediately as KS Bharat's replacement with a patient 104-ball 46 on debut at Rajkot. Every time he walked into bat, he made a difference to the team's fortunes. In his second Test, played at Ranchi, he pulled India out of a hole from 177/7 with a priceless 90, to finish on 307. He returned in the second innings to anchor a tricky chase with an unbeaten 39 to win the Player-of-the-Match award. He has hardly put a foot wrong since. If English conditions are about facing the moving ball, playing on Australian pitches requires a different kind of adjustment. In his first outing in Australia last November, Jurel made his mark. The pitch for India A's second game against Australia A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was too spicy for the liking of any batter from the subcontinent and even KL Rahul struggled. As if batting on a different pitch, Jurel played some scintillating shots to top-score in both innings – 80 in a total of 161 and 68 in a total of 229. Impressed, the Indian team management picked him as a batter for the first Test at Perth with Pant keeping wicket. The Test didn't go well for Jurel, getting out for 11 and 1, and when captain Rohit Sharma joined for the second Test, he was the casualty. Getting just one game was tough on the youngster, but the competition for places was intense. With Rohit and Virat Kohli retired, India is looking for batting options. The Test team's transition period starts with the tough five-Test series in England starting at Leeds on June 20. Whatever call the team management takes, it is an advantage that in Jurel they have a player available for those conditions. Many times it happens that you don't have a player and the team is forced to stick with the same combination. Jurel gives an extra batting option. His impressive start to the England tour is a big positive for the Indian Test side in transition.
News18
06-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
IND A Vs ENG Lions 2nd Unofficial Test: KL Rahul Century Takes India A To 319 At Stumps On Day 1
Last Updated: Rahul produced a brilliant 116 runs against the English Lions at the County Grounds in Northampton on Friday, while Dhuv Jurel came up with a half-century. KL Rahul's ton at the County Grounds in Northampton on Friday took India to a total of 319/7 in India A's second unofficial Test against the England Lions as the batter starred with a 116-run knock. He was helped by Dhruv Jurel's 52-run knock, while Karun Nair and Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with contributions of 40 and 34 runs, respectively. The English Lions won the toss and opted to field first as Yashasvi Jaiswal, who opened the innings alongside Rahul, fell to Chris Woakes, who trapped the southpaw plumb in front of he wicket. Abhimanyu Eashwaran stepped in to replace his fallen teammate, but the skipper couldn't fare any better against Wokes. The Englishman secured another wicket, dismissing Eashwaran for 11 runs off 13 deliveries. Nair joined Rahul at the crease, and the wicketkeeper-batter reached his fifty with some solid stroke play. However, Nair fell to Woakes after scoring 40 runs from 71 deliveries. Jurel aimed to steady the Indian innings, partnering well with Rahul. Jurel reached his half-century with a boundary just before Rahul achieved his century. Jurel was castled by George Hill for 52 runs. Hill then dismissed Rahul in his next over, ending the Indian opener's innings at 116 runs off 168 deliveries, which included 15 fours and a six. Reddy fell to Tom Haines, after Shadrul Thakur was dismissed for 19 runs by Farham Ahmed. Tanush Kotian and Anshul Kamboj remained unbeaten at the crease on 5 runs and 1 run respectively when the umpire tipped the bails off to signal the end of the day's play. Abhimanyu Easwaran(C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian, Anshul Kamboj, Tushar Deshpande, Khaleel Ahmed England Lions Playing XI: James Rew (C/Wk), Tom Haines, Ben McKinney, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Max Holden, George Hill, Chris Woakes, Farhan Ahmed, Josh Tongue, Edward Jack First Published:
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
IND-A vs ENG Lions, Day 4: Jurel scores second fifty; Jaiswal, Easwaran make merry as match peters out to a draw
India A batters enjoyed their time on a placid batting track with all the top four batters helping themselves to half-centuries as the first unofficial 'Test' against England Lions ended in a draw here on Monday. After England Lions ended their first essay on a healthy 587, 30 runs more than India A's first innings score of 557, Yashasvi Jaiswal (64 off 60 balls), skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (68 off 87 balls), Dhruv Jurel (53 not out) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (52 not out off 47 balls) got some runs and confidence before the second 'Test' in Northampton, starting June 6. The match was called a draw after India A raced to 241 for 2 in 41 overs with 25 overs remaining on the final day. India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar promoted Reddy to No. 4 and allowed him to belt a few blows before the first Test against England at Leeds. Similarly, Jurel, who scored 94 in the first innings, did his cause no harm by scoring his second half-century of the match. Jurel has the technique to play purely as a batter if the team management thinks on those lines. The second innings started with Jaiswal hooking left-arm seamer Josh Hull for a six and in the post lunch session, Jaiswal and Easwaran matched each other stroke for stroke with both hitting eight boundaries. RELATED | MATCH HIGHLIGHTS DAY 4 The pitch had nothing in it, and the Lions' bowling was as mediocre as the Indian attack, with none looking to put the batters in any sort of trouble. Reddy enjoyed his time as he chanced his arms and hit three big sixes. Jurel also cut and drove well, and also pulled for good measure. Sarfaraz Khan, who scored 92, or first innings double centurion Karun Nair, who is a part of the Test squad, didn't bat at their usual numbers as they had got enough match time in the first dig. Although the second innings runs when the match as a contest was as good as dead counts for little but the four half-centurions can look at it as a glorified extended net session that won't do them any harm. However, the bowling effort left a lot to be desired but it had a lot to do with the flat track that was on offer here.
NDTV
02-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
England Lions vs India A, 1st Unofficial Test: Dhruv Jurel Scores Second Fifty, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran Make Merry
India A batters enjoyed their time on a placid batting track with all the top four batters helping themselves to half-centuries as the first unofficial 'Test' against England Lions ended in a draw at Canterbury on Monday. After England Lions ended their first essay on a healthy 587, 30 runs more than India A's first innings score of 557, Yashasvi Jaiswal (64 off 60 balls), skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (68 off 87 balls), Dhruv Jurel (53 not out) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (52 not out off 47 balls) got some runs and confidence before the second 'Test' in Northampton, starting June 6. The match was called off after India A raced to 241 for 2 in 41 overs with 25 overs remaining on the final day. India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar rightly promoted Reddy to No. 4 and allowed him to belt a few blows as he is almost certain to play at Leeds in the first Test against England. Similarly, Jurel, who scored 94 in the first innings did his cause no harm by scoring his second half-century of the match. Jurel has the technique to play purely as a batter if the team management thinks on those lines. The second innings started with Jaiswal hooking left-arm seamer Josh Hull for a six and in the post lunch session, Jaiswal and Easwaran matched each other stroke for stroke with both hitting eight boundaries. The pitch had nothing in it and the Lions bowling was as mediocre as the Indian attack with none looking to put the batters in any sort of trouble. It was important for the Test squad members to get a decent hit in the middle and hence the team management would feel satisfied with the outcome. Reddy enjoyed his time as he chanced his arms and hit three big sixes. Jurel also cut and drove well and also pulled for good measure. Sarfaraz Khan, who scored 92 or first innings double centurion Karun Nair, who is a part of the Test squad didn't bat at their usual numbers as they had got enough match time in the first dig. Although the second innings runs when the match as a contest was as good as dead counts for little but the four half-centurions can look at it as a glorified extended net session that won't do them any harm. However, the bowling effort left a lot to be desired but it had a lot to do with the flat track that was on offer here. Listen to the latest songs, only on
