TimesofIndia.com in Galle: At the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) Ground in Colombo, Dhruv Jurel was sitting by himself when a chirpy Sarfaraz Khan, who had joined the team just hours earlier, walked up to greet him. The duo share a special history, having made their Test debuts together against England in Rajkot two years ago. However, their careers have taken different turns since then. While Sarfaraz has struggled for regular opportunities, Jurel has established himself as a regular in the Test squad and was also picked as a back-up wicketkeeper-batter for India’s limited-overs teams. Despite contrasting game time and backing, Jurel is yet to cement his spot in the playing XI, even when the management has backed him as a specialist batter in the presence of Rishabh Pant, India's first-choice wicketkeeper in Tests. Jurel's career has so far followed a very frustrating pattern: he has had solid outings in shadow and preparatory fixtures but has failed to carry that form into the international arena. Before the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Jurel was sent early to prepare with the India A team, where he scored 80 and 68 in two outings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). He played only one game in the series, at Perth, scoring 11 and 1. A few months later, he turned up for India A against England Lions before the Anderson-Tendulkar Test series. Jurel scored 94 and 53 not out at Canterbury. He was on the bench for four Tests in England before replacing the injured Rishabh Pant for a crucial fixture at The Oval. His scores of 19 and 34 in the two innings brought his long summer to a disappointing end. Next up was the home season, featuring four fixtures against the West Indies and South Africa. India had identified a need for a right-hander in the mix and, with the management unwilling to go back to Karun Nair, Jurel became the favourite to get more game time as a specialist batter. India A hosted Australia A for two fixtures and, in both games, Dhruv made a strong case for himself. Scores of 1, 56 and 140 were enough to earn the faith of the men who matter for the West Indies and South Africa Tests. Jurel played all four games, scoring his maiden Test hundred against the West Indies in Ahmedabad, but managed only 29 runs in four innings against South Africa. It is understood that the think tank was not at all pleased with his outings in Kolkata and Guwahati and even reminded him that he needed to perform much better to remain relevant as a pure batter. Then came the white-ball fixtures, the IPL and a one-off Test against Afghanistan, where the 25-year-old would have felt gutted to return with only 19 runs to his name. The low scores and the manner in which he has thrown his wickets away have surprised the management.
In the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens, off-spinner Simon Harmer dismissed him on both occasions. In the first innings, Jurel chipped a return catch, while in the second essay, he pulled a rank hop delivery straight to the throat of the lone man patrolling at deep midwicket. In the first innings of the second Test in Guwahati, Jurel failed with a pull shot again, this time against left-arm quick Marco Jansen. Jurel went for an extravagant pull shot and ended up popping an easy catch to mid-on. His misery followed him to New Chandigarh during the one-off Test against Afghanistan as well. It was brain fade, to say the least, from the batter. Jurel left a ball thinking it would bounce over the wicket, but instead it nipped back and kissed the top of off stump. However, the build-up to the two Tests in Sri Lanka was again a familiar one for Jurel. He toured with the India A team last month and had scores of 14, 141* and 53 in Galle. The warm-up outings in Colombo weren't ideal, nor was his hit in the match simulation. In the two outings at the NCC, Jurel managed 1 and 17. The second-innings dismissal will again raise questions over his judgement. The Galle Test might prove to be his chance to shake off his string of poor scores in Test cricket and repay the faith that the selectors and team management have shown in him over the last two years. Jurel had played only 15 first-class matches, with a highest score of 249 against a weak Nagaland side. But there was something about him that caught the eye of the Indian selection panel, headed by Ajit Agarkar, and he received his maiden call-up. Rishabh Pant was still recovering from a horrific car accident, KS Bharat played the first two Tests against England, and then, in Rajkot, Jurel got his chance.
"Great work ethic. Very sincere guy. Nice kid. Very nice to speak to. Understands his cricket. Very intelligent as far as his game is concerned," former India batting coach Vikram Rathour told TimesofIndia.com in October last year. “Rajkot was the first time I saw him play. And then in Ranchi, he played a fantastic knock, that partnership with Kuldeep (Yadav) was phenomenal. In that series, a couple of knocks he played were incredible. The chase in Ranchi is something I will always remember. It was difficult conditions, we were under pressure, and the series was on the line,” Rathour said, praising Jurel for his gutsy 90 in the Ranchi Test against England. Cut to the present, the 25-year-old now has two net sessions to regain his touch and confidence and ensure the management that he is the right choice for No. 6 in India's Test set-up. With Sarfaraz Khan back in the mix, the onus will be on Jurel to cement his spot. However, his place, at least for the Galle Test, seems safe, but the presence of Sarfaraz certainly puts more options on the table.
133203269 The youngster is widely liked in the dressing room for his impeccable work ethic. He is one of the hardest workers in the room, and the effort he puts into his preparations hasn't gone unnoticed. However, after more than two years with the Test team, performance, not effort, needs to speak. And starting August 15, it will not only be a trial by spin for the Indian cricket team but also a baptism of fire for Dhruv, provided he retains his spot, to make the position his own for the foreseeable future.