The India Under 19 star and back-up keeper can prosper playing as a specialist batter in the upcoming Test series, according to a former Australia captain.
Former Australia Captain Tim Paine Backs Young Wicketkeeper-Batter Dhruv Jurel for Impact in Border-Gavaskar Series
Former Australia captain Tim Paine has high hopes for young Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, saying he can make a strong impression during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. Although Jurel, only 23, has just three Test matches under his belt, he’s traveling with Team India as a back-up for regular keeper Rishabh Pant. But Paine believes Jurel could be more than a stand-by, especially after his impressive knock for India A against Australia A in Melbourne.
Jurel caught Paine’s attention with his composed and mature innings of 80 and 68 runs, batting at No.6 in a low-scoring match at the MCG. Paine, who was coaching Australia A for the match, feels Jurel might even be picked as a specialist batter for the first Test of the series in Perth.
“I don’t know if you all saw the highlights, but after watching him bat against Australia A, even though he’s primarily a wicketkeeper, I’d be quite surprised if he doesn’t play in Perth,” Paine shared on Australian radio channel SEN. “He scored one of the classiest 80s I’ve seen, and we in Cricket Australia’s staff were all just watching, thinking, ‘This boy can really play!’
Jurel made his Test debut against England earlier this year in Rajkot, taking a catch and a stumping while also scoring 46 runs batting at No.8 in a dominant Indian win. In the next Test in Ranchi, he put up another composed innings of 90, showing his solid technique and temperament. Across his three Test matches against England, Jurel has an impressive batting average of 63.33.
Though the upcoming matches against Australia in the World Test Championship are set to be much more challenging, especially in the fast, bouncy Perth conditions, Paine feels Jurel has what it takes.
“He’s only 23 and has played just three Tests, but he looked a notch above his teammates, honestly, and handled the pace and bounce very well, which is not always easy for Indian players,” Paine said about Jurel. “Keep an eye on him this summer – I think he’ll leave a good impression on Australian fans. Facing the likes of Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood will be another level, but he seems well-prepared for Test cricket.”
As Indian cricket fans eagerly look forward to the Border-Gavaskar series, there’s added excitement about seeing young talents like Jurel in action. If selected, he’ll not only get a chance to shine on the big stage but will also have a great opportunity to showcase his skills against some of the world’s best bowlers.
