BGT 2024-25: Tim Paine backs Dhruv Jurel to impress in the five-match test series

Dhruv Jurel was part of India A squad in the 2nd unofficial test against Australia A.

Young Indian wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel has captured the attention of former Australian captain Tim Paine with his standout performance in the second unofficial test match between Australia A and India A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Batting on the fast bouncy Australian surface, Jurel was India’s star performer registering scores of 80 and 68 in the first and second innings of the match. Jurel’s ability to handle the extra bounce has earned him high praise across the Australian media.

So far, Jurel has made three test appearances for India. Jurel has an impressive batting average of 63 in his small test career. Playing in his debut series test series against England, Jurel made 46, 90, 39*, and 15 in his four outings.

His impressive display at the MCG has caught the attention of Paine, who thinks he could be a valuable asset for India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Tim Paine’s high praise for Dhruv Jurel

Speaking to SEN Tassie, Paine expressed his admiration for Jurel, Paine said, “There’s a guy who has wicket-kept in a few Test matches for India. He averages 63 across the three Tests he’s played, and his name is Dhruv Jurel. Watching him bat, it was evident he has the temperament and skill for the longer format. Even though he’s primarily a wicketkeeper, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t feature in the series in some capacity.”

The 23-year-old has impressed Paine with his adaptability, especially with how he handled pace and bounce at the MCG.

Paine continued, “He’s 23, and he looked a class above all his teammates on this tour,” Paine continued. “A lot of players from the subcontinent find it difficult to adjust to our conditions, but Jurel looked right at home. He’s someone who handled the pace and bounce extremely well, which is unusual for an Indian batter at the MCG.”

With Rohit Sharma’s availability still not confirmed, Dhruv Jurel can find his place in India’s starting XI in Perth. Indian coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed that KL Rahul can open the innings in Sharma’s absence, which means India can play Jurel in the middle order as a pure batter.

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