Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel once again stole the spotlight with his sensational batting performance for India A against South Africa A on Day 1 of the second unofficial Test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Thursday (November 6).
Coming in at a precarious 59/4, Dhruv Jurel showed remarkable calm and determination while anchoring the innings and guiding India A to a total of 255 all out. His innings proved crucial as the rest of the batting unit struggled against South Africa in Bengaluru.
Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten 132 rescues India A on Day 1 vs South Africa A
Even as India A slid further to 126/7, Jurel kept the scoreboard ticking and found valuable support in Kuldeep Yadav (20). Jurel and the Indian spinner stitched a crucial 79-run partnership, which gave India A some stability. He showed complete control against the moving ball, comfortably playing off both the front and back feet.
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Jurel’s ability to play late and take a big forward stride against the seamers helped him handle any late movement from the pitch. He started cautiously, keeping his bat close to his body and focusing on staying at the crease, but gradually shifted gears to attack the loose deliveries.
With precise cuts, drives, and well-timed strokes, he took command of the innings and punished anything that came too short or wide. Jurel’s careful build-up and smart shot selection paid off, as he reached his century off 146 balls, single-handedly rescuing India A from a tough position in the ongoing second unofficial Test.
Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran falter against South Africa A
He finished with an unbeaten 132 off 175 balls, laced with 12 boundaries and four sixes against South Africa A in the ongoing second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bengaluru.
India A captain Rishabh Pant managed only 24 runs, while KL Rahul scored 19, Abhimanyu Easwaran was dismissed for a duck, Sai Sudharsan faced more than 50 balls for just 17, and Devdutt Padikkal could only add 5 runs against South Africa A.
Tiaan van Vuuren was the standout bowler for South Africa A, finishing with the impressive figures of 4/52, while Tshepo Moreki and Prenelan Subrayen contributed two wickets each. The disciplined bowling attack tested India A’s batters throughout Day 1 in Bengaluru.
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Dhruv Jurel shows great maturity with his fourth first-class century
It was Jurel’s fourth first-class century. His recent performances against the West Indies, where he scored 125, 44, and an unbeaten 6, had already shown his talent and maturity. With this century, Jurel has shown that he can handle pressure, rebuild innings, and play long, match-defining knocks when the team needs it most.
His growing consistency makes him a strong contender for a permanent spot in India’s Test setup, putting pressure on Rishabh Pant, especially with the upcoming Test series against South Africa at home. India is all set to host South Africa in a two-match Test series, followed by 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is.
