Ranchi/Hyderabad: He just made his Test debut in Rajkot and was playing his second top flight match in Ranchi. Still, he did not look like a rookie. Dhruv Jurel led India's fightback in the ongoing test against England at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi. That he ensured India reduced the deficit, was indeed commendable.
Thanks to Jurel's responsible 90, India posted 307 in their first innings responding strongly to England's 353. Jurel in his 149-ball knock hammered six boundaries and four maximums as he literally sent the English attack on a leather hunt.
When Jurel walked in, India were in a precarious situation. He, however, showed immense grit and gumption to earn the moniker 'street smart cricketer' from Sunil Gavaskar on air.
On the way, Jurel, son of a Kargil War veteran notched his maiden Test half century and showed his fighting spirit. However, for his coach Phoolchand Sharma, it was not surprising as he thinks that Jurel is an accomplished batter in all the three formats and has immense patience.
Phoolchand Sharma, who runs the Wonders Cricket Club in Noida in Uttar Pradesh, remembered the day when Jurel first walked into his academy. "I was sitting in my academy when Jurel, who was 13 years old then, walked into my academy to pursue his interest in cricket," Phoolchand told ETV Bharat over the phone from Noida on Sunday.
"I asked whether he has run away from his house in Agra. Then I spoke to his father who said that it was the 13th day ritual of Jurel's late grandfather when Jurel came to Noida and hence he could not come with his son. Then immediately I took him under my wings, admitted him to a hostel after speaking to his father and started working on him," recollected Phoolchand, who is also the coach of Uttar Pradesh pacer Shivam Mavi.
Phoolchand also recalled that then he made Jurel play in some of the local tournaments where he excelled both in batting and wicket keeping. He then performed in age groups tournaments, Ranji Trophy for Uttar Pradesh and kept waiting for his chance. He kept knocking the doors for a berth in the national team and when the opportunity came to him, he grabbed it with both hands.
Meanwhile, Jurel's father Nem Chand was a retired Havildar with the armed forces and fought the Kargil war in 1999 before taking voluntary retirement. He told ETV Bharat that his mother had to sell jewelry so Jurel could pursue his dream.
He also added that it was the proudest day of his life when Jurel received his Test cap from former India stumper Dinesh Kathik.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan took to X, formerly known as Twitter and lauded the youngster for his stupendous effort with the willow. "Taking team India out of trouble in his second game. WOW inning that by Dhruv Jurel #INDvENG," Pathan said.
Former India opener and the highest run getter in Ranji Trophy, Wassim Jaffer also praised Jurel, and his partnership with Kuldeep Yadav, which brought India back into the game. "Whole of India to Dhruv Jurel today. What an impressive performance both behind and in front of the wicket by Dhruv. The importance of this knock and the partnership with Kuldeep cannot be overstated. Top notch game awareness #INDvENG," Jaffer posted on X.
Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop also lauded Jurel and India's lower order for the fightback. "Top effort from Dhruv Jurel and the lower order. Saw Dhruv in the U19 CWC in South Africa in 2020. Lost track of him through the pandemic while he was putting in his work in domestic cricket. Then, BOOM, that 32(15) in RR 2nd game in IPL 2023 vs PBKS," Bishop, now a noted broadcaster, stated on X.
Jurel might have missed his maiden hundred by a whisker as he was the last man to be dismissed after being cleaned up by Tom Hartely but the stumper has shown his mettle. For Phoolchand Sharma, his ward Jurel is legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni's "replacement".
Meanwhile, Jurel made a salute gesture after reaching his maiden Test fifty. Later in the post-day press conference, Jurel said, it was for his father. "It was for my father. He is a Kargil war veteran. Yesterday I spoke and he indirectly said, 'son, at least show me a salute'. That is what I have been doing all my growing up years. It was for him," Jurel said at the end of his most memorable day in his life.
Jurel was quite chuffed about the comparisons with a man of Dhoni's stature. "Obviously it's a good feeling to hear a legend like Sunil Gavaskar talk about me. The mood was great, there were no specific instructions... just to go out and play. Watch the ball and play. Just that the long I play the better it is."
About missing what would have been a well-deserved hundred, he said has no regrets. "I don't regret a bit on missing the hundred. It's my debut Test series, I'm just desperate to lift this trophy in my hands. It's always a childhood dream to play for India in Tests."
As he got out, the crowd gave him a standing ovation and even the English cricketers, including his Rajasthan Royals teammate Joe Root, came rushing to congratulate him.
