When
Dhruv Jurel
was included in India's Test squad against England as his maiden national call-up, he had played just 15 first-class games having debuted in the domestic circuit for his state team Uttar Pradesh in the 2022 Ranji Trophy. But now after playing just two Tests, the
wicketkeeper-batsman
's performances have earned him parallels to none other than the iconic former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
After Sunil Gavaskar anointed Jurel, the son of a Kargil War veteran, as "another MS Dhoni in the making" after his knocks of 90 and 39 not out to take India to victory in the fourth Test in Ranchi, another former India skipper and leg-spin legend Anil Kumble has found Jurel's skills of the level that can take him to where Dhoni reached in his career.
But a place in the playing eleven may not be that straightforward for Jurel once
Rishabh Pant
, who met with an accident more than a year ago, returns fit. Kumble, however, didn't hold back from declaring that Jurel is the nearest to becoming the next Dhoni, both behind the stumps and with the bat in hand.
"Oh yes, there's Rishabh Pant. We don't know, of course, when he comes back, whenever that happens, sooner hopefully for Rishabh. But otherwise, yes, he (Jurel) certainly has all the credentials to get to where MS (Dhoni) reached in his career," Kumble said while speaking on Jio Cinema.
"He (Jurel) has not just shown the temperament in his technique to defend but even when he is attacking. Even in that first innings (in Ranchi), he was very assured when he went after (the bowlers) and then hit those big sixes when he was batting with the tail," added Kumble.
"And hats off (to his skills) even behind the stumps. He's been exceptional, especially (when 'keeping) to the faster bowlers. To the spinners, again took a couple of really good catches and he's only going to improve. This is only his second Test and I'm sure as he starts playing more and more, he'll only get better. And it only augers well for India."
Kumble also lauded the brave call by the selectors to pick a player like Jurel with very little first-class experience.
"To have him in a squad is exceptional. I mean it's not been easy for KS Bharat. But that's why I said the selectors, having seen him with only 15 first-class games, have chosen him, saying 'okay, this is the person who we believe (in)' and introduced him in that last (third) Test. And since then he's been outstanding.
Jurel scored 46 in his debut match in Rajkot and hasn't looked back since.
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