Dhruv Jurel joined the India A crew in Melbourne a few days in the past. On Thursday, when he walked out to bat within the second and closing ‘unofficial’ take a look at in opposition to Australia A on the MCG, his crew was gazing humiliation. The India A prime 4 had been eliminated very quickly, with the guests slumping to 11-Four by the third over.
However India A discovered a saviour in Jurel, who joined the squad together with KL Rahul after India’s Take a look at collection in opposition to New Zealand. Enjoying his first long-format match Down Below, the 23-year-old didn’t look misplaced on the pace-friendly MCG monitor, batting with assurance to attain a preventing 80 (186 balls; 6×4, 2×6).
On a day when the top-order batters, together with opener Rahul, danced to the tune of the Aussie pacers, Jurel tackled the quicks with a knock of substance, singlehandedly guiding the vacationers to 161 of their first innings. In response, Australia A stood at 53-2 at stumps.Along with his battling efficiency in difficult circumstances, Jurel will certainly be one of many contenders for a primary XI spot when India play Australia in Perth from Nov 22. Working with nice temperament and mixing warning with aggression, he displayed an array of strokes, be it back-foot punches, sq. cuts, cowl drives, flicks or pull pictures. However the one that basically stood out was the upper-cut that he performed off Michael Neser over the slips’ head for a 4 — it was a reminder to the crew administration that one factor the Uttar Pradesh participant does not lack is braveness.
With Sarfaraz Khan failing in 4 back-to-back innings in opposition to New Zealand, the No. 6 slot within the Indian crew has opened up. That Jurel, additionally a wicketkeeper, was made to journey early signifies that he’s very a lot within the scheme of issues for the marquee project.
Transient scores: India A 161 in 57.1 overs (Jurel 80; Neser 4-27) vs Aus A 53-2 in 17.1 overs.
India A proceed to battle in Australia | KL Rahul disappoints once more | #BeyondTheBoundary
