Ranchi Test hero Dhruv Jurel achieves career-best rankings after stellar debut

Young India wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel achieved his career-best Test rankings after winning the Player of the Match award.

In the Ranchi Test against England. Jurel’s scores of 90 and 39 have lifted him 31 places to 69th position and England opener Zak Crawley has entered the top 20 for the first time after scores of 42 and 60, while a bunch of spinners have also prospered in the latest weekly update.

Jurel’s debut was nothing short of impressive, stepping onto the field in Rajkot and immediately showcasing his mettle. With India’s batting lineup in dire straits, Jurel’s composed 46 in his first innings was a sign of things to come.

However, it was in Ranchi where Dhruv truly shone, crafting a crucial 90 in the first innings and following it up with an unbeaten 39, steering India to a tense victory by five wickets. This performance not only secured India the series win but also earned Jurel the Man of the Match award, marking him as the first Indian wicket-keeper in 22 years to achieve such a feat in his second Test match.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s five-wicket haul in the second innings helped him narrow the gap with top-ranked Jasprit Bumrah to 21 rating points after the fast bowler was rested for the Ranchi Test. Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav (up 10 places to 32nd) and England’s Shoaib Bashir (up 38 places to 80th) have also attained career bests.

JUREL TURNS HERO FOR INDIA

Dhruv Jurel, India’s latest wicketkeeper, has claimed that he struggled to sleep the night his side was in danger and staring down the barrel. At stumps on Day 2, India were 219/7, 353 runs behind England’s first-innings total. Jurel, undefeated on 30, was the only recognized batter left, with Kuldeep Yadav, unbeaten on 17, providing company. With India down by 134 runs and three wickets remaining, another collapse seemed on the cards.

“I was not able to sleep last 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,” he said.