The esteemed coach and Director of Cricket for Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara has expressed his delight over Dhruv Jurel's first call-up to the Indian Test team for the upcoming series against England. The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, announced a 16-player squad for the first two Tests of the series, starting January 25th at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
Jurel, the 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, was a notable inclusion as one of the three wicketkeeping options for the Indian squad. This maiden selection for the national team comes as Ishan Kishan steps away from the team, citing mental fatigue. Jurel has caught the attention of many with his standout performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL), particularly in his debut season, where he assumed the role of a finisher for the Rajasthan Royals.
Sangakkara praised Jurel's hard work and his ability to thrive under pressure, a quality that has earned him this prestigious opportunity.
"He is a fantastic young man. He is a really good player who has worked really hard to get where he is. He understands pressure. He came in last season in one of the most difficult positions and scored so many runs for us. He is an absolute match-winner in the short format. Jurel's work ethic and demeanour stand out," Sangakkara told the media in Paarl.
Jurel, who was acquired by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 20 lakhs in the 2022 IPL auction, quickly made a name for himself as a dynamic finisher. In the IPL 2023 season, he played 13 matches, scoring 153 runs at an average of 21.71 and a striking strike rate of 172.73. Recognizing his potential, the franchise retained him ahead of the IPL 2024 auction.
Sangakkara also expressed satisfaction with how Rajasthan Royals has contributed to nurturing young talents for the Indian cricket team.
"Very proud and happy because one of our key motivators and one of our key kind of performance indicators away from the IPL is producing players for India and we have produced quite a lot over the years and Dhruv being a new addition," Sangakkara added.
Apart from his IPL exploits, Jurel has made significant contributions in first-class cricket, representing Uttar Pradesh. He debuted in the Ranji Trophy 2022 season against Vidarbha. Over 15 matches, he has amassed 790 runs at an average of 46.67, which includes a double-century and five half-centuries, showcasing his consistency and talent in the longer format of the game.
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