Dhruv Jurel salutes family roots after unbeaten 115 in Colombo Test
Dhruv Jurel celebrated an unbeaten 115 by saluting and flexing to honour his family roots after reaching three figures in Colombo on Monday in the second Test, a knock that helped India gain the upper hand in the match.
Jurel revealed the tattoo on his bicep reads 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' and said the gesture was for his family, explaining his father was a soldier and his grandfather a farmer. "My grandfather was a farmer, and my father was a soldier. So, those are my roots, and I don't want to forget them. So, that salute should go to my father and grandfather," Jurel said after the day's play.
His unbeaten 115 was constructed alongside a 112-run stand with Rishabh Pant, with Pant contributing a brisk 63 as Jurel remained patient and selective in his aggression. "We all know Pant is such a terrific player and what he has done for India in Australia and England. So, whenever he is in, I only seek his advice, because he has so much experience. So, I always ask him for advice as, what I should do in a particular situation," he said.
Jurel stressed he does not try to replicate Pant's style and outlined his own approach to innings management. "As you can see, Test cricket has different ways of playing, and it makes the game beautiful. When you play with Pant, it's a very terrific experience. I can't play like him, the way he has been playing since childhood. "My game plan is to see which bowler should I take down, which spell should I play, and I always ask Pant because he is a wicketkeeper, I am a wicketkeeper, and we play in the middle order, so it's a very good experience."
The century carried added significance after a spell when Jurel's place in the XI had been questioned, and he credited a previous India A tour of Sri Lanka with helping his preparation. He also singled out Mohammad Siraj's contribution as important, noting Siraj defended for 29 balls without scoring. "Siraj, whenever I speak to him, I think he celebrates more. It's good thing about him was that his defending was solid. It was good," Jurel said.
Jurel's Instagram bio includes the phrase 'Mamba Mentality', and his unbeaten 115 was described in the report as his second Test hundred that delivered a commanding position for India. After India declared at 503 for nine, the visitors' bowlers struck before stumps: Prasidh Krishna removed Lahiru Udara and Manav Suthar dismissed Prabath Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka were 8 for two at stumps, Kamil Mishara unbeaten on five, and trailed India by 495 runs on day two of the second Test in Colombo.
