India vs England 2024

Mother’s gold chain paves Dhruv Jurel’s path to Test team

Yesterday’s announcement of India’s Test squad for the England series threw up one delightful curveball: the inclusion of 22-year-old Dhruv Jurel. While Jurel’s IPL exploits with Rajasthan Royals (impressive strike rate of 170+) made him a rising talent, a Test call-up seemed a bridge too far. Fate, however, can work in mysterious ways. The Indian Cricket Board’s desire for a specialist keeper on turning tracks, coupled with Ishan Kishan’s unavailability, opened the door for Jurel.

This may have been beyond his wildest dreams, but his impressive domestic showing and IPL prowess couldn’t be ignored. Jurel’s selection isn’t just a nod to his talent but also reflects the board’s focus on future-proofing the national team. Yesterday, joy must have overflowed in the Jurel household, a family no stranger to hardship. This call-up, a testament to their unwavering support and Dhruv’s relentless pursuit, would have made every sacrifice feel a thousand times lighter.

In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Jurel revealed that his father, a Kargil war veteran, envisioned a different path for his son– one adorned with olive green, not whites. He wanted his son to join the army or at the very least, take up a government job. However, at 14, Dhruv, fueled by an unyielding passion for the game, threatened to leave home, his dreams clutched tighter than any prized possession. It was in that fraught moment that his mother stepped in. She sold her gold chain, its glint replaced by the promise of a willow wand– a cricket bat that became Dhruv’s passport to a different destiny.

“Us waqt toh realise nahi hua but when I understood how big a sacrifice it was, I became more determined,” he said to Hindustan Times in an interview.

“Tere sone ki chain wasool ho gayi”

Last year, Jurel’s parents had turned up to see their son play in one of the games in Jaipur. Their son, a whirlwind of energy in pink, was carving up the bowling attack, each stroke a testament to years of relentless pursuit. At that point, his father turned to his wife and acknowledged that her sacrifice of the gold chain paid off. “They came to watch an IPL match in Jaipur. Papa turned towards mummy and said ‘tere sone ki chain wasool ho gayi aaj’ ,” Dhruv recalled.