India’s youth Despite having just played two Test matches, wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel is already receiving comparisons to the great MS Dhoni from a number of seasoned cricket players. Jurel was called the future Dhoni by legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar, and veteran spinner Anil Kumble believes the youngster has what it takes to become just as good as the previous captain. In the fourth Test match between India and England, Jurel scored a match-winning 90 in the opening innings and an undefeated 39 in the second to help his team win.
While pointing out comparisons between Jurel and Dhoni, former India captain Sourav Ganguly said that the young player is in a “different league” and did not draw comparisons between the two.
“Dhruv Jurel, what a pressure-filled Test match he played on a difficult wicket. There is a ton of talent, and it will be quite difficult to recover if you go back down the ladder and miss you. MS Dhoni is playing at an improved level. There’s no doubt about Jurel’s talent. However, MS Dhoni didn’t become MS Dhoni for 20 years. Better still, give Dhoni 15 years to be Dhoni. Allow Jurel to play. The way Jurel can play with spin, pace, and-above all-perform under pressure. That’s what a young person should have,” Ganguly said to RevSportz.
In the third Test between Rajkot and Australia, Jurel made his debut with a first-inning 46 that showed promise.
Then, in the fourth Test in Ranchi, Jurel showed strong will to save India twice.
When he joined Shubman Gill at 120-5 in the chase for 192, the 23-year-old was faced with a hat-trick ball. However, he composedly handled England’s spinners to lead his team to a five-wicket victory that demonstrated “composure and maturity,” according to captain Rohit Sharma.
With the series already secured, India will be hoping that Jurel can maintain his form when they play England in the fifth and final Test.
The Indian cricket board announced on Thursday that speed wonder Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the team’s series-clinching victory in the fourth match, will be back for the final Test against England.
In the last Test, which India won in Ranchi by five wickets to take an unassailable three-point lead in the five-match series, Bumrah was rested.
However, KL Rahul will miss out once more after being forced to miss the previous three games because of a quad injury he sustained in the first game.
