India's wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel recently shared a heartfelt message for head coach Rahul Dravid, expressing deep admiration for the former cricketer whom he described as a remarkable individual. Jurel's impressive entry into Test cricket contributed significantly to India's victories against England in Rajkot and Ranchi, marking a commendable beginning to his career in the longest format of the game.
With the fifth and final Test against England approaching in Dharamsala, Jurel took to the social media platform 'X' to extend his gratitude towards Dravid.
Dravid, who played a pivotal role in Jurel's development from their time together during the Under-19 World Cup victory to their collaboration in the senior national team, received high praise from the young cricketer.
"Junior to Senior but always a student of this great man," Jurel wrote on X.
Dhruv Jurel's makes every opportunity count
Jurel, a key member of the 2022 Under-19 World Cup team led by Dravid, received his Test debut from Dinesh Karthik at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot for the third Test of the series against England. Despite a promising start, Jurel narrowly missed a half-century in his debut match, being dismissed for 46. However, his perseverance paid off in the fourth Test at Rajkot, where his exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match title.
A match-changing effort from Dhruv Jurel in Ranchi
Contributing a crucial 90 in the first innings and following up with an unbeaten 39 in the second, Jurel played a vital role in securing a 3-1 series lead for India against England. His partnerships of 77 runs with Kuldeep Yadav and 40 runs with debutant Akash Deep were instrumental in setting a formidable first innings total of 307 runs. The Indian bowlers then restricted England to 145, setting a target of 192 runs for the win in Ranchi.
On the final day of the match, with India starting strong at 40 without loss, Rohit Sharma's half-century was a highlight. However, England managed to make a comeback with quick wickets. Nonetheless, Shubman Gill's unbeaten fifty, coupled with Jurel's steady 39 from 77 deliveries, guided India to a memorable victory in Ranchi.
The series will conclude with the final showdown between the two teams at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on March 7, where India will look to cap off the series on a high note.
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