Dhruv Jurel Proves His Versatility With Stellar Performance Against West Indies In Ahmedabad

Dhruv Jurel was the 40th wicket-keeper to be capped in Test cricket by India. He is one of the most fiercely determined cricketers to have emerged from the BCCI’s domestic tournaments in recent times. An aggressive batter, he offered a choice to the national selectors with his multi-skill gifts when Rishabh Pant was rendered hors de combat because of a car crash and his immediate replacement Kona Bharat. Jurel made his debut against England at Rajkot and impressed one and all. In five Test matches he scored 255 runs, missing a first century in the Ranchi Test, bowled by left arm spinner Tom Hartley for 90 with 6x 4s and 4x6s. He played three Tests against England coming in for Bharat after the second Test at Visakhapatnam. Then he kept wicket in the first Test at Perth and did not trouble the scorers getting out to Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins and thereafter he replaced Pant (out with a foot injury) in the fifth Test at the Oval.  And on the second day of the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad the 24-year-old from Agra, Uttar Pradesh and son of a Kargil War havaldar, became the 12th Indian wicket-keeper to score a century (125, 269 minutes, 210 balls, 15x 4s, 3x6s) and steered his team to a commanding position in the Test. He also became the 6th Indian wicket-keeper to score a century against the West Indies after Vijay Manjrekar (1953), Farokh Engineer (1975), Ajay Ratra (2002, now national selector), M.S. Dhoni (2006) and Wriddhiman Saha (2016). Jurel celebrated his memorable feat with an open palm salute after a half century and Guard of Honour tribute after the century. Super show!