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Uttar Pradesh keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who has been picked in the Indian team for the first two Tests against England, has opened up on his struggles and the sacrifices of his parents towards fulfilling his cricketing dream.
The youngster has revealed that his father borrowed ₹800 to buy a bat for him, while his mother sold her gold chain so that her son could buy a cricket kit.
Jurel, who will turn 23 later this month, was on Friday, January 12, named in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England. The cricketer has been picked as one of the three keeper-batters in the squad along with KL Rahul and KS Bharat.
Recalling his struggling days, the right-handed batter opened up on how his parents went out of their way to help him pursue his cricketing ambition.
"I used to study in Army School. During holidays I thought about joining cricket camp at Eklavya Stadium in Agra. I filled up the form but did not tell my dad. When he came to know, he scolded me. However, he borrowed ₹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 cricket kit," Jurel told Dainik Jagran, as quoted as saying by NDTV.
Jurel was part of the India A squad that played two unofficial Tests during their tour of South Africa in December last year. He contributed 69 in the second match in Benoni and also scored a half-century for UP in their Round 1 Ranji Trophy 2024 clash against Kerala.
“Rohit bhaiya, Virat bhaiya wala Indian team” - Dhruv Jurel opens up on interaction with friends, parents after selection
Jurel revealed that his friends informed him of his selection in the Indian Test team for the England series. He added that his family got extremely emotional after hearing of his inclusion in the Indian squad.
"My friends told me that I got selected for Indian team. When I told them that I have been selected, they asked me 'which Indian team I got selected?' I told them Rohit bhaiya, Virat Bhaiya wala Indian team. My whole family got emotional after hearing this," the youngster said.
Jurel has played 15 first-class matches so far, scoring 790 runs at an average of 46.47 with one hundred and five fifties.
