Dhruv Jurel of Rajasthan Royals beat Cameron Green of Kolkata Knight Riders. (NOT a photo) JAIPUR: It was a truly instinctive and athletic piece of wicket-taking as Dhruv Jurel, who played his role to perfection for Rajasthan Royals, bowled Kolkata Knight Riders’ Cameron Green at the Eden Gardens last Sunday. Even Sachin Tendulkar praised his presence of mind. “Just one stump in sight, in motion and done in the blink of an eye! Simply gorgeous Dhruv Jurel,” he wrote on X.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Jurel was partially blindsided as Green moved forward and across to face Ravi Bishnoi’s googly, which spun viciously down the leg side. The twenty-five-year-old glover reacted in a flash. Dives full length to the left to collect the ball, gets caught and off balance, manages to blind-swipe behind the back which hits straight on the stumps. For Jurel, staying behind the stumps offers the best possible view of the game. “It helps me understand the game better. Best seat in the house,” he told TOI.
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Matthew Hayden reacts after Gujarat Titans’ defeat against Mumbai IndiansDespite his evident qualities, he is yet to become India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in any format. But that doesn’t deter him. “Competition is good and actually keeps me sharp. That mindset is rooted in the Army discipline where you don’t just prepare for battle, you train every day to be ready for battle,” he said. For Jurel, temperament and mental toughness are everything, qualities he readily admits he inherited from his father. “Growing up in an army environment and listening to my father’s stories of being on the frontline, he taught me a lot about bravery and discipline. I bring that same frontline mindset to the crease,” said the Royals goalkeeper.Love for Test cricket“Red-ball cricket is like a game of chess. I love the format. Test cricket is a real test of your character. I’ve learned that patience is more important than speed and you have to be in the game for the whole five days. It’s hard to maintain that focus.”“Winning a Test match for India gives a sense of accomplishment, so I felt like dedicating my first Test century to the Indian Army in honor of the real heroes,” Jurel said.
