Dhruv Jurel has been the emerging player of the IPL 2023 so far. The 22-year-old from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, has emerged as a power-hitter lower down the order for the Rajasthan Royals and has displaced Riyan Parag from the XI with consistent power-hitting in the chances he’s got so far in the tournament.
Dhruv Jurel’s latest blockbuster knock came against table-toppers Chennai Super Kings. In the sunsetting lights in Jaipur, Dhruv Jurel smashed 34 unbeaten runs off only 15 balls. His strike rate of 226 is the best of all the RR batters on the show tonight. He cracked 3 fours and 2 sixes in his entertaining innings that helped RR post the total of 202/5.
Earlier in the season, he made his debut in style, cracking 32* off 15 balls against Punjab Kings and almost pulled off a heist of a chase. He also hit 18 off 10 against the Gujarat Titans.
Just before this thrilling knock against CSK, Dhruv Jurel had shown his mettle in another blistering innings, smoking 34* of 16 balls against RCB and brought another run-chase close, but it proved too much once again. Today, batting first against CSK, he got ample time and made it count, helping RR’s total to over 200, which on this Jaipur pitch might prove to be just enough for their bowlers to defend.
Who is Dhruv Jurel?
Dhruv Jurel is a 22-year-old right-handed batsman from Agra, Uttar Pradesh. He was bought by Rajasthan Royals for his base price of INR 20 lakh in the IPL 2022 mega-auction and was retained for the same price for IPL 2023.
Jurel was the vice-captain of the India Under-19 side that reached the finals of the U19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2020. In the Cooch Behar Trophy, a 4-day junior domestic tournament, Dhruv Jurel racked up 736 runs in 11 outings in his debut season.
Dhruv Jurel domestic record and stats:
In 11 first-class matches for UP, Jural has scored 587 runs at an impressive average of 48 with the help of one century and 3 fifties and a best of 249 against Nagaland in December 2022. In 9 T20 matches, including the IPL, he’s scored 124 runs at a strike rate of 137 with a best of 34*. He also doubles up as a wicket-keeper
Dhruv Jurel is an admirer of AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni 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.
