In his first international appearance, Dhruv Jurel, the young Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, etched his name into the history books on Day 2 of the third Test against England. In the first innings for India, Jurel notched up the highest debut score by any Indian wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket for the first time in 90 years.
Taking over the role of wicketkeeper-batsman from Srikar Bharat in the third Test held at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, Jurel was included in India's starting lineup. Bharat was left out of the squad due to his lackluster batting performances, despite his proficient wicketkeeping skills.
Dhruv Jurel falls short of a half century on Test debut
Taking the bat at No. 8 after Kuldeep Yadav's departure early on the second day, 23-year-old Dhruv Jurel stepped up with a poised and skilled performance in his first game on the international stage. He was instrumental in forming a significant eighth-wicket stand with Ravichandran Ashwin.
Despite being given reprieves through a couple of missed catches, Jurel maintained confidence and mastery over his innings. As he approached a landmark half-century, he was unfortunately dismissed for 46 runs from 104 balls, a knock that featured two boundaries and three sixes.
The partnership between Dhruv Jurel and Ravichandran Ashwin contributed 77 runs for the eighth wicket. After Jurel's exit, Jasprit Bumrah (28) and Mohammed Siraj (3) added an important 30 runs to the tally. The Indian team concluded their first innings with a total of 445 runs.
Dhruv special first in 90 years
Dhruv Jurel Misses Major Milestone in Test Cricket
Dilawar Hussain continues to be the only Indian wicketkeeper to score a half-century in his Test debut, a landmark he reached in 1934 during a match against England in Kolkata. He hit a fifty in each inning, becoming the first Indian to accomplish this feat in Test cricket.
Highest Score By Indian Wicketkeeper On Test Debut
Dilawar Hussain – 59 vs England in January 1934
Dilawar Hussain – 67 vs England in January 1934
Dhruv Jurel – 46 vs England in February 2024
Dinesh Karthik hands debut cap to Jurel
In a video posted by the BCCI, Dinesh Karthik was seen handing over the cap to Jurel prior to the start of the match. Karthik talked about Jurel's inspiring journey, his move from Agra to Noida for the sake of his cricket career, underlining the continuous support from his mother along his path.
“It’s a very special occasion. Coming from Agra and moving to Noida at a very young age, your mother being there with you, and all the tough things that must have happened in the journey. There must have been so many people through the journey that must have helped you and I am sure all of them are going to be watching today,” Karthik said.
“You must have played a lot of matches in different colors, mainly blue, but there is something very pure and divine about representing India in Test cricket,” he added.
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