Dhruv Jurel: An Indian international cricketer
Dhruv Chand Jurel, born on January 21, 2001, is an emerging Indian cricketer known for his skills as a right-handed batter and wicket-keeper. Hailing from Agra, he comes from a military background, with his father being a Kargil war veteran.
Jurel's cricket journey began during a summer camp at his school, where he witnessed kids playing the sport, sparking his interest. He progressed through the youth ranks, representing Uttar Pradesh in U-14, U-16, and U-19 categories.
His Twenty20 debut for Uttar Pradesh in the 2020–21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy took place on January 10, 2021. Notably, he was named vice-captain for India's squad in the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
In the 2022 Indian Premier League auction, Rajasthan Royals acquired Jurel. His first-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in the 2021–22 Ranji Trophy occurred on February 17, 2022. The breakthrough continued with his impactful debut for Rajasthan Royals against Punjab Kings on April 5, 2023, where he played a crucial innings of 32*(15), solidifying his place in the team.
Jurel's List A debut came on July 14, 2023, representing India A against United Arab Emirates A in the 2023 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
His international career took off when he received his maiden call-up to the Indian team for the first two Tests against England in January 2024. Dhruv Jurel made his Test debut on February 15, 2024, in the third Test against England in Rajkot. His maiden Test innings saw him scoring 46 off 104 balls.
In the fourth Test at Ranchi against England, Jurel showcased his batting prowess, contributing a crucial 90 runs off 149 balls in the first innings. He emerged as the highest run-scorer for India in that innings. In the second innings, he played a pivotal role in preventing a collapse, partnering with Shubman Gill to guide India to victory with a resilient unbeaten 39* off 77 balls.
