Shamik Chakrabarty in Ahmedabad
After reaching his half-century against the West Indies in Ahmedabad on Friday, Dhruv Jurel ‘saluted’ his father. After scoring his maiden Test hundred, the wicketkeeper-batsman dedicated the feat to the Indian Army.
India finished Day 2 of the first Test on 448/5, with Jurel’s contribution being 125 off 210 balls. At the press conference after the day’s play, Jurel spoke about how he has been inspired by the Indian Army.
“The salute (celebration) after reaching my fifty was for my father, but for the hundred, it was something that I had it in my mind for a very long time,” the 24-year-old told reporters. “Because I have been so close to the Indian Army… I have seen my father since my childhood. What we do on the ground, and what they do on the battlefield is very difficult and you cannot compare that.”
Jurel’s father, a Kargil war veteran, was initially against his son playing cricket. Jurel had kept his association with the sport a secret from his father. But after a point, he started to perform so consistently in age-group cricket that his fascination for the game could no longer be kept hidden. Newspapers did the job of a messenger. The youngster chose a different career path, but he has made his family proud.
Jurel has immense respect for those who keep the country’s borders safe. “I will always have my respect and whatever I will do in the future will be for them (Indian Army),” he said. “I would like to dedicate this (century) to them for what they do. I have seen them closely, how it is like. And I remain very fascinated by those things. I also used to keep asking my father. I will dedicate it to those who deserve it.”
