Who is Dhruv Jurel? - All you need to know about RR’s young sensation

Punjab Kings sealed a second win in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 campaign against Rajasthan Royals by five runs in a thrilling affair. Shikhar Dhawan’s Kings may have prevailed but it was 22-year-old Dhruv Jurel of Royals, who garnered massive attention for his explosive batting performance which nearly took the game away from the rival side.

The top-tier league has given a terrific platform for youngsters to collaborate with seasoned players from around the world and flourish into becoming some of the finest cricketers. Since its inception, numerous top-draw cricketers rose up the ranks with clinical performances in the league which put them in the spotlight. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Sarfaraz Khan among others are a few names who have got a chance to step up in IPL and get their share of fame.

Such is the case with Uttar Pradesh-born wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel. Introduced as an impact player in the ongoing IPL season during the match against Punjab Kings, the RR batter made a lasting impression with the bat which swiftly garnered eyeballs. 

Speaking about his career, Jurel was the deputy of the national side at the U19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2020 that headlined the finals of the event. In the Cooch Behar Trophy (India’s four-day junior domestic event organized by BCCI, Jurel notched up 736 runs in 11 outings in his debut season.

Scored 249 runs during the Ranji Trophy clash

In his most recent outings, the keeper-batter hammered 249 runs in a Ranji Trophy match against Nagaland in December 2022 and was adjudged Player of the Match for his knock. In 11 First-Class matches, the batter has amassed 587 runs with three fifties and one ton to his name thus far.

In one of the interviews, Jurel stated that he is an ardent follower of cricketing legends such as MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers, and Virat Kohli.

“AB de Villiers, (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni and Virat (Kohli). Especially de Villiers. I am a huge fan of the way he bats, the way he fields, and the way he keeps. He always tries to give his best. I look up to Virat for fitness, and MS Dhoni’s calmness is what I wish to acquire,” Jurel was quoted as saying by Redbull. 

The right-hander was roped in by Rajasthan Royals at the mega auction in 2022 but did not get his chance to play for the side. In his first brush of IPL against Punjab, the batter helped Rajasthan nearly chase down a mammoth 197 runs by scoring a quickfire 15-ball 32 and raising a 61-run partnership with Shimron Hetmyer.

He smashed back-to-back boundaries with panache and maintained his calmness throughout the knock. Despite ending on a losing cause, there is a lot for the batter to look forward to as he will aim to prove a vital cog for the Royals in the forthcoming fixtures.