
Dhruv Jurel played a match-winning knock for India in the fourth and penultimate Test versus England at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi. With a five-wicket win, Rohit Sharma-led India clinched the five-Test series3-1 with one game left to play. Jurel led the charge with a fine 90, reducing England's lead to only 46, and madea crucial 39* in India's 192-run chase, along with Shubman Gill (52*) and Rohit's 55, as the home side won a tight contest.
Jurel also made his presence felt behind the stumps with his proactiveness and keeping skills. Thus, he was rightly named Player of the Match. His performance in Ranchi led to many former cricketers lauding the 23-year-old. Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar compared him to MS Dhoni, andnow ex-spinner Anil Kumble has also joined the bandwagon.
Speaking on JioCinema, Kumble said, "Dhruv Jurel certainly has all the credentials to get to where MS (Dhoni) reached in his career. He's not just shown the temperament of his technique to defence but even when he's attacking. Even in that first innings, he was very assured, he went after and then hit those big sixes."
"He's been exceptional, especially of the faster bowlers...He's only going to improve. This is only his second Test and I'm sure as he starts playing more and more he'll only get better. And it only augers well for India. And to have him in a squad is exceptional. Yeah, I mean it's not been easy for KS Bharat (the other keeper-batter)," the former India head coach added.
Jurel made his Test debut in the third game in Rajkot, where he scored a vital 46 in the first innings. The youngster will be eager to keep going ahead in a similar manner in the fifth and final Test versus England in Dharamsala, which gets underway on March 7.