Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar reserved massive praise for wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel after the youngster scored a gritty 90 in the first innings of the 4th Test against England in Ranchi. Resuming from his overnight score of 30, Jurel added another 60 in the first session on day 3, and was only a couple of big hits away from scoring his maiden Test century. However, Tom Hartley clean bowled Jurel to deny him a century in just his second Test.
Gavaskar hailed Jurel for his “presence of mind”, likening the youngster to legendary India captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni.
“Watching the presence of mind of Dhruv Jurel makes me think he’s the next MS Dhoni in the making,” Gavaskar said on Sports 18 during commentary.
Gavaskar suggested that if Jurel continues to bat like he did in Ranchi, he’ll score plenty of centuries going forward.
“Today he missed out on a century but make no mistake this young man will go on to score many centuries because of his presence of mind,” Gavaskar said during the Lunch break.
At the stroke of lunch break, Jurel was cleaned up by Tom Hartley (3/68) after a splendid 90 off 149 balls studded with six fours and four sixes to wrap up India’s first innings in 103.2 overs.
Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav (28) kept England at bay for the large part of the first session on the third day after doing so on the final session of the second day evening.
For the eighth wicket, Jurel and Kuldeep put on 76 vital runs while consuming 202 deliveries to settle the Indian nerves, after the hosts had lost a chunk of their batting line-up without any significant contributions on day 2.
Kuldeep perished when England took the second new ball and James Anderson had the batter walking back after an inside edge which rolled onto the stumps.
Once again playing a crucial knock, Kuldeep scored 28 from 131 balls with two fours.
For England, Shoaib Bashir completed his maiden five-wicket haul.
(With PTI Inputs)
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