'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMF/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgX/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAANKJOf8A/8QAIBAAAQMCBwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwECBAAREzFCUVJh4f/aAAgBAQABPwCFCKNokGm6Oa4l0600SCXEdcQM+Xlf/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACUf/aAAgBAgEBPwBK5P/EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAhH/2gAIAQMBAT8AaGz/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
January 12, 2024, turned out to be a red-letter day in the life of young Dhruv Jorel. The 22-year-old keeper-batter has been included in the Indian Test squad for the first time. He is a part of the 16-member squad that will take on England in the first two Tests commencing January 25, 2024.
Jurel made his debut in First Class (FC) cricket in February 2022 as a keeper-batsman and has had an impressive career so far. In 19 FC innings, Jurel has scored 790 runs at an impressive average of 46.47, including a double century and five half-centuries. He has taken 34 catches and effected two stumpings.
His impressive performances for Uttar Pradesh (UP) over the past two seasons have earned him a maiden call to the national team.
On that note, here is a look at Jurel's top three knocks in first-class cricket.
#1 249 vs Nagaland
Jurel's highest FC score is a mammoth 249 against Nagaland. He achieved this feat in a Ranji Trophy match at Nagaland Cricket Stadium, Sovima in a four-day game starting December 20, 2022.
Jurel, who usually bats in the middle-order opened the innings and slammed a double century to guid his team to a total of 551 for the loss of four wickets when the innings was declared. Nagaland were bundled out for 136 and 185 in both the innings and UP won the game by an innings and 230 runs.
Coming back to Jurel's kock, the youngster showed great skills and temperament at the top of the order and scored 249 runs from 329 balls including 26 boundaries and two maximums. The inexperienced and hapless Nagaland bowling attack was taken to the cleaners by Jurel. The youngster justified the faith the management showed in him by scoring a big century at the top of the order.
#2 64 on debut against Vidarbha
A debut inning is always special for any cricketer and it was no different for a young Jurel. He made his debut against Vidarbha at Sultanpur on February 17, 2022.
He batted at number seven during and walked out to bat with his team struggling after losing five wickets for just 169 runs. However, Jurel seemed unperturbed and played a handy knock of 64 on debut with 11 boundaries during the knock.
He did not display any nerves during his debut innings and added 85 runs with Akshdeep Nath for the sixth wicket. Even after Nath was dismissed, Jurel continued scoring runs and UP scored 301 in the first innings.
Though the match ended in a draw, the Indian domestic cricket witnessed a young star in the making in the form of Jurel.
#3 63 vs Kerala
2024 started on a positive note for Jurel. In a Ranji trophy encounter against Kerala at Alappuzha, UP lost half of their side with just 124 runs on the board.
Jurel walked out to bat and number seven and scored a patient 63 from 123 balls and guided his team to a respectable total of 302 in the first innings.He added 143 runs for the sixth wicket with Rinku Singh and contributed 63 runs in the partnership. He battled hard and smashed five boundaries and one maximum during his knock.
The match ended in a draw but Jurel was one of the players who ensured that his team got the points by virtue of a first innings lead by playing a mature knock.
