Dhruv Jurel crossed the 2000 first-class runs milestone and extended his rich vein of form by smashing a century for India A in their second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Dhruv Jurel, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, top-scored with an unbeaten 132 from 175 balls at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground.
He hit 12 fours and four sixes during his knock. This was Dhruv Jurel’s fourth century in first-class cricket – and the third in as many months – where he now boasts 2019 runs at an average of just over 54.
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After being sent in by South Africa A on the opening day, India A were reeling at 59 for 4 in the 20th over when Dhruv Jurel stepped in to play a lone hand and steady the innings.
Unfazed by India’s loss of early wickets, Dhruv Jurel got off the mark in style by smashing South Africa A’s Prenelan Subrayen for a six.
He continued his counter-attack in the next over, striking two fours off Tiaan van Vuuren as he looked to build a partnership with captain Rishabh Pant.
However, Rishabh Pant was dismissed soon after, leaving Jurel as India A’s last recognised batter.
Bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey and Akash Deep were the next two players in but had brief stays at the crease, leading to chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav entering the middle.
Along with Kuldeep Yadav, Dhruv Jurel managed to put on a 79-run partnership to lift India from 126/7 to 205/8 before the latter was run out.
Jurel was just two runs shy of his century at the time of Kuldeep’s dismissal and brought up his hundred off 145 balls in the next few overs with new batter Mohammed Siraj at the other end.
The right-handed wicketkeeper batter’s hundred against South Africa A is his latest top knock in a string of impactful innings this year.
He recently scored his maiden Test ton for India in the first match of the series against the West Indies when he made 125 off 210 balls.
Jurel struck three more fours and a couple of sixes after scoring his century but eventually ran out of partners as India were bowled out for 255.
Earlier this summer, Jurel piled up 227 runs at an average of 75.66, hitting three half-centuries in four innings during the India A team’s tour of England.
He also scored a century against Australia A in a multi-day match at home last month and made 56 while captaining the team to victory in the second game of the series.
Jurel’s century against South Africa A comes a day after he was named in the 15-member Test squad for the two-match India vs South Africa 2025 Test series. Jurel’s Royals teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal is also in the squad.
