Dhruv Jurel has dismissed Sunil Gavaskar’s comments comparing him with former Indian cricket team captain and legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday.
During the fourth India vs England Test in Ranchi last month, Sunil Gavaskar aired his views on how Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who was playing in his second career Test, reminded him of MS Dhoni.
Dhruv Jurel, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, scored 90 in the first innings of the Ranchi Test and was unbeaten on 39 in India’s five-wicket win. Jurel won the Player of the Match award.
In the first innings, Jurel walked out to the crease at 161/5, which soon became 177/7. With the help of the tailenders, the keeper guided India to 307. In the second innings, chasing 192 for the win, Jurel came to bat at 120/5, with India having lost their five wickets for just 36 runs and steered India to victory.
The two composed innings sparked Gavaskar to make the comparison to MS Dhoni, who often pulled his team home from precarious situations.
“Thank you so much Gavaskar sir for comparing me with Dhoni sir,” Jurel said during the India Today Conclave in New Delhi. “But I want to say personally that no one can replicate what Dhoni sir has done.
“There is only one Dhoni. Always was and always will be. For me, I just want to be Dhruv Jurel. Whatever I do, I want to do as Dhruv Jurel. But Dhoni sir is a legend and he will always remain like that”.
Jurel was impressive for the Indian cricket team in the series against England with eight dismissals behind the stumps and 190 runs from three Tests at an average of 63.33 which included a half-century.
Dhruv Jurel will be in action next in IPL 2024 with Rajasthan Royals, whose first match is against Lucknow Super Giants on March 24.
