Follow UsOn the back of Dhruv Jurel’s impressive debut in the home Test series against England last year, it was evident that the youngster was going to be a special red-ball player, and these last few months have seen him grow from strength to strength and establish himself as a key figure in India’s Test set-up.
Today in Ahmedabad, Jurel notched up his first major milestone in Test cricket, bringing up a maiden Test century. At 188/3, India already had firm control of the first Test against West Indies when Jurel walked in, but he still crafted an impressive and impeccable ton as he scored 125 off 210 balls, stitching together a match-sealing 206-run partnership with Jadeja.
Notching up a ton in just your fourth home Test is impressive in itself, but what makes Jurel’s ton even more impressive is that it came batting in the Top 5. Indeed, since the turn of this century, the 24-year-old is only the third Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test ton batting in the Top 5. Not even MS Dhoni managed this feat despite batting in the Top 5 in 5 Tests.
Indian wicketkeepers to score a Test century batting in Top 5 (since 2000)
Deep Dasgupta
Rishabh Pant (4 centuries)
Dhruv Jurel*
Overall, Jurel is the eighth Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test ton batting in the Top 5. Vijay Manjrekar, father of Sanjay Manjrekar, was the first to do so, back in 1953 against the West Indies.
Jurel’s ton - along with Jadeja’s unbeaten ton - meant that India ended Day 2 on 448/5, 286 runs ahead of the Windies. Washington Sundar is batting alongside Jadeja, and Nitish Kumar Reddy will follow the pair.