Concerns have been raised whether Jurel would maintain his spot in the team for India's next Test match in September, especially with Rishabh Pant eyeing a return to cricket.
The post ‘Dhruv Jurel has all the credentials to get where MS Dhoni reached’: Anil Kumble backs Dhruv Jurel over Rishabh Pant appeared first on Cricket Country.
One of the most important standout performer for India was Dhruv Jurel, during the Ranchi Test against England. Across Day 3 and 4, amidst a pitch offering erratic bounce, he delivered two remarkable innings, notably a resilient 90, which showed his remarkable composure and maturity. His contributions were instrumental as India clinched a five-wicket victory, securing the series win also with a lead of 3-1. Following his outstanding performance, which earned him the Player of the Match accolade, discussions in post-match analyses revolved around whether Jurel would maintain his spot in the team for India’s next Test match in September, especially with Rishabh Pant eyeing a return to cricket.
Until December 2022, Rishabh Pant was India’s primary wicketkeeping choice across formats, until a tragic car accident sidelined him. With Pant out of action, KS Bharat was given an extended opportunity in the first half of 2023, before Ishan Kishan emerged as a viable alternative. However, Kishan took a mental health break in December, prompting India to test KL Rahul for the role during the South Africa tour. Eventually, they reverted to Bharat, a more specialist option, for the opening two matches against England in the ongoing series.
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Talking about the selection in Indian squad, Kumble opines that Jurel has a long way to go
“Oh yes, there’s Rishabh Pant. We don’t know of course when he comes, comes back whenever that happens. Sooner hopefully for Rishabh. But otherwise, yes, he certainly has all the credentials to get to where MS (Dhoni) reached in his career. But he’s shown that he’s not just shown the temperament of his technique to defence but even when he’s attacking. Even in that first innings he was very assured he went after and then hit those big sixes when he was batting with the tail and hats off even behind the stumps,” Kumble said on Jio Cinema.
As Bharat continued to struggle with his batting form, failing to notch up a fifty in seven outings, India decided to turn to Jurel. Making his debut in Rajkot, the youngster displayed flashes of his talent with both the bat and gloves before shining brightly in Ranchi. His standout performance drew comparisons to the legendary MS Dhoni.
“He’s been exceptional. Especially of the faster bowlers. 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. And to have him in a squad is exceptional. Yeah, I mean it’s not been easy for KS Bharat. But that’s why I said the selectors, having seen him with only 15 1st class games have chosen him. Saying okay, this is the person who we believe and introduced him in that last Test. And since then he’s been outstanding and he’s played the match because the batting really I always feel and I don’t want to sort of throw a dampener on this at all because that’s not my intention,” he added.
Jurel is set to receive another opportunity to display his skills in the fifth Test in Dharamsala next week. However, India’s upcoming series against Bangladesh is scheduled for September. Alongside Bharat, the team management will also have another significant wicketkeeping option in Pant, who is poised to return to action in IPL 2024 after a 13-month absence.
The post ‘Dhruv Jurel has all the credentials to get where MS Dhoni reached’: Anil Kumble backs Dhruv Jurel over Rishabh Pant appeared first on Cricket Country.
