Late on Friday, the Indian Cricket Board announced the squad for the first two Tests against England. The Indian cricket team will face England in a five-match series later this month. Indian cricket team fast bowler Mohammed Shami missed out due to injury, while Ishan Kishan, who asked for a break midway through India's Tour of South Africa, was also not picked. However, the inclusion of Uttar Pradesh player Dhruv Jurel headlined the selection. The 22-year-old was a part of the India A squad that played two matches against their South African counterparts in December last year.
He had made a 69 in the second match at Benoni and more recently made a 63 for UP against Kerala in a first-round group game of the Ranji Trophy at Alappuzha. He has been picked as a third wicketkeeper in the squad.
Jurel, who made his first-class debut last year against Vidarbha, has so far made 790 runs from 15 matches at an average of 46 with a hundred and five fifties in the domestic circuit.
Dhruv Jurel's story is very inspiring. Coming from a humble background, Dhruv Jurel rose up the ranks and made his name in the domestic circuit.
Dhruv Jurel said, "I used to study at Army School. During the holidays, I thought about joining a cricket camp at Eklavya Stadium in Agra. I filled out the form but did not tell my dad. When he came to know, he scolded me. However, he borrowed Rs. 800 to buy me a cricket bat. When I told him I needed a cricket kit, dad asked me how much it would cost. I told him about Rs. six to seven thousand, and he told me to stop playing. But I was adamant and locked myself in the bathroom. Then my mom sold her gold chain and got me a cricket kit.”
“My friends told me that I got selected for the Indian team. When I told them that I had been selected, they asked me, ‘Which Indian team did I get selected for?" I told them Rohit bhaiya, Virat Bhaiyawala Indian team. My whole family got emotional after hearing this."