NEW DELHI: Dhruv Chand Jurel became a household name in Agra’s Defence Colony when he captained the India Under-19 team to win the Asia Cup title in September 2019. He was famous as 'Captain Dhruv' in his locality. If you ask for Dhruv there, in the Defence Colony, people will help you reach his doorstep.
Recently, the buzz has returned to his residence.
Now, if you ask locals about him, they will say Dhruv, jo Virat aur Rohit ke saath khelne wala hai (Dhruv, the one who is set to play alongside
Virat Kohli
and
Rohit Sharma
)
A
Kargil war veteran
's son, Jurel, who represents Rajasthan Royals in IPL, was given a call-up to the Test team for the upcoming series against England, starting in Hyderabad on January 25.
The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman was almost asleep when his phone started buzzing. He checked the messages and one of those was from the BCCI that he had been selected for the
India Test team
for the
England series
.
Dhruv Jurel
TimesofIndia.com caught up with Dhruv and spoke about his maiden call-up, playing for India A, his role model MS Dhoni, and much more. Excerpts:
The BCCI announced the team late in the night. Where were you when your name was doing rounds on social media?
I almost fell asleep when the BCCI announced the team. My phone suddenly started buzzing. I checked the messages first. It was regarding my call-up. I went into my parents' room and told them this big news. My mother hugged me. My father blessed me. They were so happy about this. My parents were so emotional, especially my mother. She started crying. I come from a middle-class family and this is like a dream come true. I am really happy and excited to go and play this big series and that too with the icons like Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli whom I have seen growing up.
Your friend and teammate Rinku Singh and other youngsters are being included in T20Is or ODIs but you have been given a maiden call-up in Tests...
I am just excited. Test is a pure form of cricket. I consider myself lucky to have had this opportunity. There are very few in the country who get the opportunity to play for India, especially red-ball cricket and I am one of those. This is a huge thing for me. This format needs patience, perseverance, and performance. I have got my maiden international call-up in this format. Nothing can be bigger than this for me.
How was the experience playing for India A? Were you confident of receiving a call-up?
I played the South Africa series. I was part of the England A series too. I scored a half-century in the series. I am really happy with my performance and the way I am playing. I am sure it is all because of my performance, hard work and the blessings of my parents. They have done a lot for me and sacrificed several things. I owe my career to them. I have improved my wicket-keeping skills. I have attended a number of sessions with coaches and tried to take this skill to another level.
Dhruv Jurel with Virat Kohli
You will be sharing the dressing room with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Anything specific questions you want to ask them about your game?
Yes. A lot of questions. Everyone asks about the game. These are the basic questions. But I also want to ask about the attitude they carry, how to remain consistent, how to remain positive, how to handle pressure, and how to add more skills to my game so that it can benefit my team. These are the things I would like to ask from veterans like Virat, Rohit, and KL.
How was your meeting with your 'idol' MS Dhoni?
Yes. I learned the art of captaincy from MS Dhoni sir. I always tried to emulate one thing - calmness. The way he handles any situation with his calm and composed demeanor is just amazing. I watched his videos as a kid and when I got the chance to lead the Under-19 team in the Asia Cup, I tried to incorporate that attitude in my captaincy, batting and keeping and those worked really well. Dhoni is my role model. He is a legend. The way he has led the Indian side and guided bowlers from behind the wickets is incredible. I was grateful that I could meet him during the IPL.
Ahead of the match against CSK, I went to MS Dhoni sir and asked him one question - 'Sir, you come in and bat at 6 or 7 and you are so consistent'.
Dhruv Jurel with his idol MS Dhoni
He said - 'If you find yourself coming in to bat at the 6th or 7th position, the unpredictability of the pitch, the unknown bowler approaching, the varying pace, and the anticipated variations can be overwhelming. Despite the uncertainties, you're tasked with stepping onto the field and immediately engaging with the ball—a role that often goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Consistency becomes paramount, as everyone is aware of the limited number of balls, urging you to maximize every delivery. The constant scrutiny for not scoring runs intensifies, creating external pressure. The key is to block out the external noise, maintaining focus and resilience. The advice received was to adhere to the game plan, trust in one's abilities without self-doubt.'
He also said - 'make a plan and execute it properly. This is the best way to go forward. If your plan fails, then make another plan and execute it. It is a process and you have to follow this.'
He further added - 'never to think about the result. Live in the moment and follow the process. If you give your best at the moment without thinking about the future, you will succeed.'
I had a good session with him in the IPL. It was a dream come true for me to meet my childhood hero. His tips will help me in the England series.
You will be meeting Joe Root and Ben Stokes during the Test series...
I am excited to meet them. I know them personally and have shared the nets and dressing room with them at Rajasthan Royals. Ben Stokes is aggressive on the field but he is so humble when you meet him. He gave me tips. Root is a class batter. He is so calm and talented. I am looking forward to meeting them. They both are legends of the game.
Dhruv Jurel with his parents
Your parents made a lot of sacrifices. Do you want to dedicate the England series win, if India manage to do that, to your parents?
They have done a lot of things for me. Whatever I am today, it is because of them. She once sold off her gold chain to arrange money for my cricket kit. My father is an Armyman and has fought the Kargil war. He is my hero and encourages me a lot. I can't repay them for what they have done for me in this lifetime.
Dhruv Jurel's career highlights so far:
- Dhruv, who represents Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket, had scored a half-century for India A in a four-day first-class match against South Africa A in Benoni and notched up a half-century in the practice game against England Lions.
- The youngster has played 15 first-class games, amassing 790 runs at an average of 46.37.
- In IPL 2023, Dhruv, playing for Rajasthan Royals, scored 152 runs at an average of 22 and a strike rate of 173.
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English (US) ·