‘another MS Dhoni’ statement after 4th Test exploits against England
Dhruv Jurel’s crucial knock of 90 runs against the England spinners on a challenging track will emerge as one of the main reasons behind the victory if Team India chases down 192 in Ranchi against England on Monday, their first successful fourth-innings chase of more than 150 runs since the heroics in Gabba in 2021.As India’s tail was beginning to show, Jurel sliced through the opposition with a mature innings that not only cut India’s deficit from 134 runs at the beginning of Day 3 to just 46 runs, but also brought him the highest-ever compliment from former captain Sunil Gavaskar, who likened him to MS Dhoni. Following Day 3’s triumphant end for India, Jurel answered Gavaskar’s high remarks.
After the spin twins, Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley, wrecked havoc against the Indian top order on Saturday, England appeared set to take a commanding lead in Ranchi. But after Jurel and India’s No. 9 Kuldeep Yadav put up a strong 76-run partnership that had the English camp unhappy, the wicketkeeper-batter turned things around to reach his first fifty and then push for the huge triple-figure total.
While providing analysis, Gavaskar likened Jurel’s game knowledge to that of the renowned Dhoni on his way to the inspirational knock. Furthermore, it wasn’t the result of the fourth Test’s batting alone. The famous Indian batsman Gavaskar was so impressed by Jurel’s wicketkeeping that he concluded the young player “is another MS Dhoni in the making.”
“He has performed admirably behind the stumps, but his keeping is just as impressive as his batting. His level of game awareness alone makes me believe that he has the potential to be another MS Dhoni. I’m aware that there can never be another MSD, but you do realize that he had MSD when he first started. Jurel also possesses this game awareness. street-savvy cricket player,” Gavaskar remarked.
Upon hearing about Gavaskar’s remarks during the JSCA International Stadium press conference, Jurel initially expressed his satisfaction with the Dhoni parallels. However, he later disclosed that the team management had not provided any direction over the play’s strategy.
“Obviously, hearing a legend like Sunil Gavaskar talk about me is a good feeling,” he stated. There were no rules, just walk outside and have fun. The atmosphere was fantastic. Play while observing the ball. Just that my playing gets better the longer I play.”
Jurel acknowledged that his incredible efforts were worthy of a century, but he expressed no remorse for missing the big score.
“I don’t feel at all bad about not making the hundred. As this is my first Test series, I’m merely itching to have this trophy in my hands. Playing for India in Test matches has always been a boyhood ambition, he continued.
