Cricket

Dhruv Jurel, the rising star of Team India, recently shared his experience of facing sledging from England's Joe Root during the Ranchi Test earlier this year. Jurel, who made his Test debut in the series, recalled the incident that occurred when he was batting cautiously on 30 not out."I couldn't sleep that night," Jurel said. "I was thinking about how I could get my half-century, but I ended up getting around 36 before they took the new ball."The next morning, Jurel faced James Anderson, who immediately began sledging him. "He was all aggressive and was continuously sledging," Jurel said. "I didn't understand half of those words because of the British accent."To Jurel's surprise, his former Rajasthan Royals teammate, Joe Root, also joined in the mind games. "I asked him, 'Why are you sledging me?'" Jurel said. "He replied, 'We are all playing for our country now.'"Despite the sledging, Jurel remained focused and went on to score 90 runs in the first innings, followed by a crucial 39 not out in the second. His contributions helped India beat England by five wickets, with Jurel earning the man of the match award.Jurel's performance in the Ranchi Test showcased his resilience and determination. Despite the pressure of making his Test debut and facing sledging from experienced opponents, he remained composed and played a key role in India's victory.The 24-year-old has since been named in India's 16-man squad for the upcoming 1st Test against Bangladesh. His inclusion is a testament to his talent and the potential he holds for the future of Indian cricket.

Dhruv Jurel, a rising star in Indian cricket, has drawn comparisons to the legendary MS Dhoni after his impressive performances in the recent Test series. His composed and impactful displays have earned him accolades from both fans and cricketing legends alike.During the series, Jurel's contributions in both innings of the Ranchi Test match were particularly noteworthy. In the first innings, he forged a crucial partnership with Kuldeep Yadav, guiding India to a competitive total. In the tense run chase, he once again rose to the occasion, forming a match-winning stand with Shubman Gill to secure victory for India.Jurel's ability to remain composed under pressure and deliver crucial performances has led to significant praise from renowned figures within the cricketing fraternity. Sunil Gavaskar, one of India's cricketing greats, stated, "I want to say that he is another MS Dhoni in the making. I know there can never be another MSD but you know the presence of mind that he has, MSD also when he started, it was that. And Jurel has that game awareness. Street-smart cricketer."Sourav Ganguly, ex India captain and former BCCI chief, echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging Jurel's talent while urging caution against premature comparisons to Dhoni. "Dhruv Jurel… what a Test match he had under pressure on a difficult wicket. There is huge talent and if you miss and you go back down in the ladder, it will be very hard to come back. MS Dhoni is in a different league. Jurel has talent; there's no doubt about it. But it took MS Dhoni 20 years to be MS Dhoni. Rather 15 years for Dhoni to be Dhoni. So let him [Jurel] play. Jurel's ability to play spin, pace and most importantly to perform under pressure. That's what you look for in a youngster," Ganguly was quoted as saying by RevSportz.Jurel's emergence has captured widespread attention, with his performances drawing comparisons to the legendary MS Dhoni. Amidst the impressive debuts of Sarfaraz Khan and Akash Deep, Jurel's composed and impactful displays have stood out, earning him accolades from both fans and cricketing legends alike.

The Indian cricket team is gearing up for the fourth Test against England in Ranchi, and uncapped pace bowler Akash Deep has emerged as a strong contender to partner Mohammed Siraj in the playing XI. Deep has been impressive in the optional training sessions, showcasing his pace and accuracy. He was seen bowling at full intensity alongside his Bengal teammate Mukesh Kumar at the nets and also engaged in an extensive batting session on the eve of the Test.With India missing key players like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, they have been forced to hand debut caps to Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, and Sarfaraz Khan. The absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has also opened up a spot in the bowling attack, and Deep is eager to seize the opportunity.Home team batting coach Vikram Rathour praised Deep's skills, saying, "Anybody who gets into the Indian team has to be a special cricketer. He (looks) like a really good bowler who has done really well in domestic cricket. He has got a decent pace, bowls a good line, looks really good."The upcoming Test in Ranchi is expected to have overcast conditions and cooler temperatures compared to the previous venues. This shift in weather could favor the seamers, and Deep's pace and ability to bowl in-dippers could prove valuable. If selected, Deep would become the 313th Indian cricketer to represent the country in Test cricket.Mukesh Kumar, another pace-bowling option, is also in contention for a spot in the playing XI. He was released ahead of the third Test in Rajkot but is back in the mix for Ranchi. However, his lackluster performance in the second Test at Visakhapatnam, where he went wicketless in the first innings and conceded 44 runs in seven overs, may count against him.England, on the other hand, have finalized their playing XI, bringing back Ollie Robinson in place of Mark Wood. Robinson will partner with the experienced James Anderson, while Shoaib Bashir, Tom Hartley, and part-time bowler Joe Root will handle the spin duties.During the optional practice session, India had a light turnout, with only a few players participating in the nets. Shubman Gill, R Ashwin, Akash Deep, KS Bharat, Washington Sundar, and Devdutt Padikkal were among those who attended the session.India currently leads the five-Test series 2-1, and a win in Ranchi would give them an unassailable 3-1 lead. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams.

England's tour of India has taken an intriguing turn as they prepare for the fourth Test in Ranchi. The tourists were greeted by an unusual-looking pitch at the JSCA International Stadium, raising questions about its potential behavior during the match.Vice-captain Ollie Pope acknowledged that if the pitch starts spinning from the first ball, it would create an even playing field. Ben Stokes, England's captain, is considering reverting to the spin-heavy attack used in the first two Tests, with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir a possible inclusion.Ollie Robinson, who has been on the sidelines for most of the series, is set to replace Mark Wood, who needs a rest after the defeat in the third Test. Robinson has been working hard on his fitness and skills during his time in India, and Stokes praised his dedication and professionalism.Stokes also addressed the criticism that followed England's heavy defeat in Rajkot, saying that it is part of the sport and that the team needs to move on quickly. He emphasized the importance of individual reflection on performances rather than focusing solely on the result.England's ability to turn the tide after setbacks was highlighted by Stokes, who pointed to their comebacks from opening defeats in the South Africa and Australia series. He stressed the team's focus on maintaining a level vibe and playing to the best of their abilities, regardless of the outcome.