"I was not able to sleep after Day 2..." - Dhruv Jurel reveals how he planned his match-winning knock
Published - 28 Feb 2024, 06:30 PM
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Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel admitted to experiencing insomnia during the fourth Test of the five-match series against England at home. Dhruv Jurel emphasized his determination to contribute more effectively to the team after the collapse on Day 2.
During the first innings of the recent match in Ranchi, the home team lost seven wickets for 177 runs. Dhruv Jurel joined hands with tailender Kuldeep Yadav, and the batting duo managed to guide the team to 219/7 at stumps on Day 2 without losing further wickets.
Thinking How I Could Spend More Time – Dhruv Jurel
Dhruv Jurel revealed his sleepless night after Day 2 of the match, focusing on extending his time at the crease and contributing more effectively to the team’s run-scoring. Jurel emphasized the significance of scoring valuable runs with the tail-enders.
“I was not able to sleep last (after Day 2) night. I was just thinking how I could spend more time in the middle, add runs and help the team. The more runs I scored, the less the team would require while chasing, so that was all I was thinking even while at the wicket today. The most important thing is having faith in the tail-enders. You need to make them feel confident about their batting, stay at the crease and make them believe that this is doable,” Jurel said.
Jurel added a crucial 76-run partnership with Kuldeep Yadav, who scored 28 runs from 131 deliveries for the eighth wicket. The wicketkeeper-batter also shared a 40-run stand with Akash Deep. Jurel scored 90 runs off 149 balls before losing his wicket to Tom Hartley.
The Indian team added 130 runs for the last three wickets as they batted to reach a total of 307 runs in the first innings. The team reduced the deficit to 46 runs after completing both innings. In the second innings, Indian bowlers dismissed the opposition for 145 runs.
My Mom Doesn’t Watch A Lot Of – Dhruv Jurel
Jurel recounted his parents’ joy upon learning about his selection, leading him to share the news on social media. Despite his mother’s limited cricket knowledge, she understood the importance of him representing India and closely monitored his performance.
“When I was named in the squad, I called my parents and their happiness forced me to put it on social media. My mom doesn’t know much about the game, but she knew it was for India. My mom doesn’t watch a lot of, is scared of me getting out and she is very emotional. She just knows how many runs I scored and the catches I took,” Jurel stated.
In pursuit of 192 runs for victory, India faced a challenging situation at 120/5. However, Jurel and opener Shubman Gill added an unbeaten 72-run partnership, guiding Team India to a five-wicket win. Jurel scored an unbeaten 39 runs off 77 balls, including two fours.
The Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer was named player of the match for his contributions with the bat. Jurel will be next seen in action during the final match, which is set to be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, starting on March 7.
