Young Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has forced his name into serious contention ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand after producing a breathtaking knock at exactly the right time.
Just days before the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is set to meet in the first week of January 2026 to finalize the ODI squad for the New Zealand series, the 23-year-old played a career-defining innings for Uttar Pradesh against Baroda in Rajkot.
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Dhruv Jurel smashed his maiden List A century and took it to another level, finishing unbeaten on 160 from just 101 balls. The innings instantly caught attention and added fresh pressure on the selectors as they are set to finalize the squad.
Dhruv Jurel on Rishabh Pant ODI Fight: “My Focus is on Performance”
India is expected to stick with KL Rahul as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, but the bigger question has been about the backup option. Until now, that discussion mainly revolved around Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan, even though Dhruv Jurel has been part of India’s ODI squads this year.
However, Jurel’s sensational form has forced everyone to take notice, and he has now finally broken his silence on the “fight” with Rishabh Pant. Jurel was quoted as saying by the Times of India, “Whatever the result and selection may be, no one can take my hard work away from me. That’s why I work hard. It has brought me this far and will take me further.”
Dhruv Jurel’s Grounded Take: “It’s About Controllables”
Amidst growing buzz, the 23-year-old Uttar Pradesh batter has remained remarkably calm. Jurel’s approach has been about preparation and long batting sessions rather than chasing selection outcomes that are not in his hands.
Jurel further added, “I don’t set too many goals for myself. I focus on the process. Even before the Vijay Hazare Trophy, when I got some time, I got some time; I was batting for 4-5 hours and creating scenarios in my mind about what I can do.”
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The Selection Headache: Pant’s Comeback vs Ishan and Jurel’s Red-Hot Form
Rishabh Pant, who returned to the ODI setup after a long injury break, has played only one match during the Sri Lanka tour in July 2024. He was included in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad and the recent ODI series against South Africa at home, but he did not get a chance to play.
On the other hand, Kishan has been in sublime form with the bat. His strong showing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earned him a late call-up to the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The Jharkhand star continued his form with a century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, sparking talks of his return to the ODI side.
Even Jurel now has a big hundred against Baroda in the tournament. The wicketkeeper has already scored 307 runs in just three matches at an incredible average of 153.50 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. He has already smashed two half-centuries and a century, putting him firmly in place to retain his ODI setup.
