Jurel makes 51 and says 'I go there and do what the team needs' in Galle Test
Dhruv Jurel scored 51 for India during Day 2 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium on Sunday, August 16, 2026, and told reporters: “Whenever I go in, I just think about what the team needs.”
Jurel described his half-century as a team-focused contribution during India’s first innings and spoke to the media at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday. He said: “There is no personal milestone that I look for before batting. I listen to the captain and coach. I go there and do what the team needs, I try to control the situation for the team. It is about being switched on. I had played in the A-series earlier here and I had an idea about the pitch and the weather.”
On the batting approach, Jurel outlined the plan as one of accumulation and sensible play, saying: “The plan was to make as many runs as possible by playing sensible cricket. Be it Rishabh Pant or me or the tail, we wanted runs on the board.”
When asked about pressure over his place in the XI before this game, he replied: “Not at all. I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to represent India. That’s the only privilege that I play for.”
Jurel placed emphasis on the role of India’s bowlers following the first innings, asserting: “Satisfaction is about winning the match. Our bowlers have to be consistent, bowl long spells. There is no rocket science. We need to put the ball in right areas and get those 20 wickets. Our score of 450-odd is very good on this pitch.”
He also outlined India’s preparation, noting the team’s extended stay and practice in Sri Lanka: “For India, it is all about volume. We came here 10 days before and trained at Colombo. We had many sessions. Batting on these surfaces helps us improve, and we become aware about the environment and the situation.”
With the Test affected by rain, Jurel said the remaining match time will be critical, adding: “The three days will be crucial. We have to work hard on all these days. We cannot be thinking about the time we lost to the rains.”
