Shamik Chakrabarty in Ahmedabad
KL Rahul broke his home century drought after more than 3,000 days. But as Day 2 of the second Test between India and the West Indies meandered along and dusk fell, Dhruv Jurel was resplendent in his maiden Test hundred. His previous best was 90 against England in Ranchi last year.
Not many cricketers come Test-ready. It is the toughest format of the game and a majority of the players take time to get into the groove. Jurel has taken to the format like a duck to water. In any other team, he would have been an automatic pick. But Rishabh Pant’s presence has made him a back-up in the Indian side. Indian cricket is blessed to have an embarrassment of riches, but sometimes it can have its downside.
Jurel knows he will have to perform whenever he gets his chances. Pant’s injury has given him an opportunity to further prove his mettle at this level. On Day 1, he wowed the fans with his world-class wicketkeeping. He carried forward the confidence to score an accomplished century on the second day. Ian Chappell, the great former Australia captain, calls it the trickle-down effect.
At the top level, a player is judged by his ability to handle pressure. Jurel revels under it. He showed that in his debut series against England. A 39 not out, on the heels of his 90 in the first innings in Ranchi, was a match-winning effort. The team management rates him, a reason why he was sent at No. 5 in this Test. Washington Sundar, now a Test regular, would have been an easier option in that position. But Gautam Gambhir & Co. backed the 24-year-old from Uttar Pradesh to be successful even in a specialist batting position.
India were comfortably placed at 188/3 when Jurel came out to bat. But there was a rough at one end of the pitch outside the right-hander’s leg stump. Khary Pierre and Jomel Warrican, the two left-arm spinners, were turning the ball from that area. The youngster took the attack to the tweakers to upset their rhythm.
The hallmark of his batting is the judgment. Jurel knows what to play and what to leave. Technically sound, he has a pretty good back foot game as well. West Indies took the second new ball after 97 overs, and Jayden Seals and Johann Layne bowled good spells in tandem with it. The way Jurel batted in that phase attested top-class temperament. Runs dried up for a while. Jurel was stuck on 75 for quite some time. He never looked perturbed, choosing to wear down the bowlers instead.
Pant has a high ceiling, an X-factor, a reason why he trumps Jurel as the first-choice. But going ahead, if Jurel builds on from here, the team management might be tempted to fit both of them in the playing XI. There’s a middle-order place up for grabs, especially overseas. Jurel’s progress augurs well for India.
As he was dismissed for 125 towards the fag end of the day, after a 206-run fifth wicket partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, everyone in the dressing room stood up to acknowledge a special effort. For 210 balls and 269 minutes, Jurel was the showstopper, ably guided by his senior partner Jadeja. The special all-rounder, too, went on to score his sixth Test hundred.
It was a good batting day and India slammed the door shut on the tourists with centuries from Rahul, Jurel and Jadeja, and a half-century from Shubman Gill. At stumps, the hosts were 448/5, leading by 286 runs after West Indies were all out for 162 in their first innings. India are unlikely to bat for a second time in this Test.
Brief scores: West Indies 162. India 448/5 (Dhruv Jurel 125, Ravindra Jadeja 104 batting, KL Rahul 100, Shubman Gill 50, Roston Chase 2/90).
