Dhruv Jurel dedicated the knock to his father, who is a Kargil war veteran.© X (Twitter)
A fighting half-century by wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel got India within touching distance of England’s first innings total of the fourth Test in Ranchi on Sunday. Jurel missed out on his maiden Test century by 10 runs as he 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 on 307. Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav (28) kept England at bay for the large part of the first session, with the former perishing on the stroke of Lunch.
However, Jurel’s knock allowed India in reducing England’s lead to just 46 runs. The 23-year-old, who’s father is a Kargil war veteran, completed his half-century in 96 balls before changing his gear.
It was Jurel’s first half-century in Tests, having scored 46 on his debut in the last match. He dedicated his knock to his father and his “salute” gesture has gone viral on social media.
A feeling like no other!
Dhruv Jurel raises his bat for 50 for the 1st time in #TeamIndia whites #INDvENG #BazBowled #IDFCFirstBankTestSeries #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/nfi4xR4ETc
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 25, 2024
The fifty celebration by Dhruv Jurel.
– Son of a Kargil war veteran, making India proud. pic.twitter.com/TNpfhoP0dU
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 25, 2024
Dropped on 59 by Ollie Robinson, Jurel smacked Bashir for back-to-back four and six and raced to 90 from 149 balls before left-arm spinner Hartley denied him a well-deserved century by cleaning him up with a quicker delivery.
He found an able ally in Kuldeep who made 28 off 131 balls, in an innings of utmost grit and determination as the duo put together 76 valuable runs in the eighth wicket stand that brought the deficit under 100.
Under overcast and gloomy condition with no hint of sun, India were reeling at 219 for 7 when the overnight duo of Jurel and Kuldeep took their guard with 134 runs in arrears.
Kuldeep displayed superb application on a pitch with variable bounce as he played those 131 balls not only with immaculate defence but also rotated the strike well.
Young England offspinner Shoaib Bashir too completed his maiden Test five-wicket haul by trapping Akash Deep to return with the figures of 5 for 119 in his second Test.
(With PTI Inputs)
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