Is Dhruv Jurel Showing He’s More Than Pants Backup?

Dhruv Jurel, India's wicket-keeper in place of Rishabh Pant, continues to prove himself. Despite being picked as a replacement, Jurel showcased his skills and gave it all for the team. He contributed with the bat, scoring his maiden Test ton against the West Indies.

The Indian team has seen a change in wicket-keepers often for the last two years. Rishabh Pant has been the team's primary keeper, but he remains injured after a series of two. In his place, the Indian team has brought down

With Pant being unavailable for the series against the West Indies, Jurel received another chance to play for the team. And he went on to prove his worth by scoring his maiden Test ton. Even on the challenging green pitch, Jurel showcased his dedication to getting a permanent spot in the team.

1. Jurel Steals Spotlight Against Windies

Dhruv Jurel has taken the spotlight in the Test series between India and the West Indies. Being picked in the very first Test, Jurel decided it was the best time for him to script a comeback. He did keep well behind the stumps in the previous Tests,

This was probably the reason why the Indian team saw him as a backup to Pant. But in the first Test, he contributed with both bat and gloves. Jurel took 4 catches just in the first innings, playing a major role for the Indian bowlers to bundle the opposition all out.

After the Indian team came to bat, Dhruv Jurel stepped in at number five. He went on to have a 30-run stand with KL Rahul for the 5th wicket. But when Rahul lost his wicket, Jurel took command. First, he went on to score his second half-century, and Jadeja and composed at the other end.

Jurel knew that the job was still not done, as he went on to score more. Thus, he ended up scoring 125 runs for the team, making his maiden ton memorable. This shows that Jurel has now made a statement to the BCCI that he cannot just keep the wickets well, but also score runs with the bat.

2. Flawless Debut for Jurel, Yet Overlooked

Dhruv Jurel made his debut in 2024 for the Indian team against England. It was also a home series for the team, and the Indian team played without Rishabh Pant. Jurel did keep the stumps and also ensured that his debut series went well for him and the team.

He played his second Test match at Rajkot, which was 4th of the series. In this, he went on to score 90 runs in the first innings, which helped India to finish at the score of 307. Later, when the team was chasing down the target of 192, Jurel remained not out in the chase.

Scoring 39 runs in the chase, Dhruv Jurel ensured that the team was able to win the game with ease. This also helped him to receive the Player of the Match award for his magnificent batting performances. Just in his second Test, getting the POTM award is definitely a big achievement for any player.