The Uttar Pradesh keeper-batter, playing in only his second Test, showed a lot of maturity and played a key role in bringing India back into the fourth Test against England. Responding to England’s 353, India resumed their first innings on Sunday at 219/7. Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav (28 off 131) carried on from where they left off the previous day, adding 76 runs for the eighth wicket.
While Kuldeep was bowled by James Anderson to leave India eight down, Jurel was the last man out for 90 off 149 balls, an innings including six fours and four sixes. He got a brute from Tom Hartley that spun away after pitching and knocked him over. While Jurel was disappointed at the point of his dismissal, he later said that he did not have any regrets over missing out on three figures.
"It is my debut series, so obviously there is pressure. I was thinking about what the team needed from me at that situation. I have a good rapport with Kuldeep, we are both from UP and we kept speaking to each other," Jurel said at a press conference following the end of the third day’s play.
"I have no regrets about missing century in Ranchi. My only dream is to lift the series trophy with my own hands. It was my dream to play Test cricket for my country," the youngster added.
During the match, India legend Sunil Gavaskar hailed the keeper-batter and commented that he saw shades of MS Dhoni in the youngster. Asked about the same at the press conference, he humbly replied, "It is quite encouraging to hear good words from Sunil Gavaskar, he is a legend of the game. It is a great environment in the Indian team. They asked me to spend as much time as I could in the wicket.”
After Jurel's knock ensured England’s first innings lead was less than 50, spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav combined to claim nine wickets and bowl out England for 145 in their second innings. Set to chase 192 for victory, India went to stumps on Day 3 at 40/0 loss.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
