Dhruv Jurel

Born on January 23, 2001, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Dhruv Chand Jurel is a wicketkeeper-batter representing India in Tests and the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. 

He is a right-handed batter, primarily known for his batting exploits as a finisher in the IPL, but he also has a good First-class record to show his versatility. The addition of his ability to keep wickets makes him a future candidate if given proper grooming and solid backing. 

Dhruv Jurel: Along the Years

Dhruv Jurel Records

• Second-youngest Indian wicket-keeper to win a ‘Player of The Match’ award in Tests, after Ajay Ratra

• Fifth-youngest wicket-keeper to win a ‘Player of The Match’ award in Tests 

Dhruv Jurel Career

Dhruv Jurel has made a great impact in the limited span of his career and has been considered a solid middle-order batter who can rescue the innings from grave situations across formats.

Dhruv Jurel Domestic Career

Dhruv Jurel made his T20 debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy and his First-class debut for Uttar Pradesh in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The wicketkeeper-batter has a great record in his short career in FC cricket so far, amassing 980 runs at an impressive average of 49, with a personal best of 249 against Nagaland in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 season. 

Jurel made his List-A debut for India A and finished as the runner-up in the ACC Emerging Cup 2023.

Dhruv Jurel IPL Career

Dhruv Jurel was bought by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022 mega auction but made his IPL debut against the Punjab Kings in IPL 2023. He shined in his maiden appearance in the mega event, scoring an unbeaten 32 off just 15 balls and almost steering the Royals past the target.

Across the two IPL seasons that he played in 2023 and 2024, Jurel impressed the cricketing fraternity with his blazing cameos and came into bat as a middle-order batter and a finisher as well. Despite having a below-par season with the bat, he scored a fine unbeaten half-century against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2024 when the other batters failed to get going. However, in the presence of star wicketkeeper-batters Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler, Jurel has not donned the gloves for the Royals so far.

Dhruv Jurel Test Career

Following the absence of Rishabh Pant who was recovering from a deadly car accident, veteran Wriddhiman Saha who has been out of India’s scheme of things in the longest format, and a shoddy KS Bharat who never got going with the bat, despite being largely spectacular behind the gloves, Dhruv Jurel was given a go in the recently-concluded home Test series against England. 

He made his Test debut in the third Test of the series and scored a solid 46 coming in at number 8. In the fourth Test, Jurel was adjudged the ‘Player of The Match’ for contributing vital runs at the back end and forging a match-winning partnership of 76 runs for the 8th wicket with Kuldeep Yadav in the first innings. The Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper-batter then steered India to victory with an unbeaten 39 along with Shubman Gill, when the team was down for 120 for the loss of 5 wickets, with 72 more runs required. Jurel became the second-youngest wicketkeeper-batter from India after Ajay Ratra and the fifth-youngest overall to win a ‘Player of The Match’ award in Tests.

Jurel was not only magnificent with the bat but also stellar with his sharp wicketkeeping skills that ensured that India won the series by a margin of 4-1 against England. With the return of Pant to the national team’s folklore, it is safe to say that Jurel would be the second-choice wicketkeeper for India in Tests shortly.

Dhruv Jurel Under-19 Career

Dhruv Jurel featured in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2020 and was named as the vice-captain of the Indian team to Priyam Garg. He scored an unbeaten 52 against Sri Lanka U-19 in the opening match of the tournament.

Dhruv Jurel’s Family

Dhruv Jurel was born to his father Nem Chand, a retired Indian Army Havildar and a Kargil War veteran, and his mother Rajni Jurel. He did a salute celebration to commemorate his maiden Test century as a tribute to his retired army veteran father for the sacrifices his parents made leading to this pathway. Jurel’s mother had also sold her gold chain to buy a cricket kit for him to flourish in the game. He also has a sister named Neeru Jurel.

Dhruv Jurel’s Cars

Dhruv Jurel was awarded an MG Hector by MG Motors India for his spectacular display in the recently concluded Test series against India.