Dhruv Jurel is set to make his return to Test cricket, as the BCCI’s selection committee has backed the young wicketkeeper-batter for India’s opening Test match against Bangladesh next week. He’ll be competing for a spot in the playing XI with the returning Rishabh Pant. Reflecting on his journey, Jurel recalled his debut Test series earlier this year against England, where he made a mark with standout performances in Ranchi, earning him the Player of the Match award for his scores of 90 and 38.
With KL Rahul sidelined due to injury and India’s patience with KS Bharat seemingly running out, Jurel got his big break. He made his international debut in Rajkot during the third Test against England, following it up with a crucial performance in Ranchi that helped India clinch the series.
In a conversation with Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel, Jurel reminisced about the first innings in Ranchi, where India collapsed, losing three wickets in 10 overs for just 16 runs. With India in trouble at seven down, Jurel adopted a cautious approach to his innings. However, after being sledged by England’s veteran fast bowler, James Anderson, for his defensive style, Jurel shifted gears and formed a vital 76-run partnership with tailender Kuldeep Yadav.
“The next match was in Ranchi. Everything was going smoothly until suddenly, we lost a bunch of wickets. The England players seemed relaxed and were just having fun. Then Anderson came to me and said, ‘I’ve seen your videos; this is not your game,’ because I was defending a lot and playing cautiously. I thought about giving him a response but held back, thinking I’d let my bat do the talking. I decided to play more positively, especially when Shoaib Bashir was bowling. I knew I could go after him if he bowled in the right areas, and that’s when I formed that partnership with Kuldeep,” Jurel shared.
‘I was shocked when Joe Root sledged me’
On Day 3, Jurel reached his maiden half-century, and his partnership with Kuldeep began frustrating the England players. As India’s first-innings deficit dropped below 100 runs, the sledging from Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, and Joe Root intensified.
While Anderson had started the sledging on Day 2, it was Joe Root’s behavior that caught Jurel by surprise. Having shared the same dressing room with Root at Rajasthan Royals during the IPL, Jurel was stunned to see Root join in.
“I couldn’t sleep that night. I was not out on 30, and I was planning for the next day, thinking about whether I should go for the half-century with the old ball or wait for the new ball. Eventually, I got to around 36 before they took the new ball, and Anderson returned. By then, he was fully aggressive and sledging me continuously. I couldn’t even understand half of what he was saying because of his British accent! Even Bairstow and Joe Root joined in. I was shocked because Root and I had played together in IPL, so I asked him, ‘Why are you sledging me?’ He simply replied, ‘We’re all playing for our country now.’”
