Jurel reaches century in Colombo, calls Test cricket a privilege

Dhruv Jurel reached his maiden hundred for India on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on August 24, 2026, taking 13 deliveries to move from 99 to 100 while Mohammed Siraj stood at the non-striker’s end and surviving a run-out attempt in the process. His innings, which he celebrated on the field, was described by the report as having deflated the hosts.

The day was interrupted by rain, and Jurel told reporters in Colombo that he was familiar with the stop-start conditions from a previous tour with India A and had been focusing on batting in partnerships and reading the pitch. “Even if I scored a 100 today, tomorrow I will go and start from zero, that’s how it is,” he said, explaining his approach to the innings.

Recalling the tense passage when he was on 99, Jurel said: “So actually, when I was on 99, before that I was getting runs, and on 99, he (Asitha Fernando) started bowling good lengths. When I played that shot (for the hundred), thought it was going past the fielder, that there was a gap, and then I was like oh God!”

The match report noted an anxious Indian dressing-room watching during the nervous nineties as Jurel negotiated the period to reach his century. Photographs from the day, credited to PTI, captured his celebration after reaching three figures in the second Test.

When Sri Lanka batted in their first innings, Jurel took the wicket-keeping gloves for India; he explained the reason to the media, saying: “Right now, (Rishabh) Pant has a sore right shoulder. We are closely monitoring him. Today I kept wickets, hopefully he will be fit.”

Jurel also praised Asitha Fernando’s bowling during his knock, saying: “It was so hot and he used the short ball. It’s not easy for a bowler, and he was really challenging, especially when I was on 99.”

Jurel stressed the value he places on red-ball cricket, stating plainly: “Playing Test cricket is a privilege. We want to play well both in white and in blue.”

The immediate next focus for the team, according to Jurel’s comments, is the assessment of Rishabh Pant’s shoulder as they monitor his recovery while Jurel continues in the wicket-keeping role until Pant is declared fit.