Born in a middle class family in Agra. His father is a retired Havaldar of the Indian Army who had taken part in the 1999 Kargil War.
Cricket is more than just a game in India. it’s a passion that ignites dreams in the hearts of millions. Among the rising stars of Indian cricket, Dhruv Jurel stands out not only for his talent but also for his relentless determination and hard work. However, the journey to becoming a professional cricketer was not easy. Dhruv faced numerous challenges along the way. Financial constraints made it difficult to afford proper training and equipment.
How its started ?
In the recent interview (“Roaring with the Lions”, Jatin Sapru YT), Dhruv Jurel said I got inspired with my father. He was in Army and fought in the Kargil War, and I also wanted to do something for my country. I had a plan until class 10 that I would join the NDA and serve in the defense forces to do something for my country but after some time, I lost interest in studying.I went to a summer camp to learn swimming with some friends, and there I saw kids playing cricket. They were wearing white dresses and diving around, and I thought, ‘I do this too in my streets.’ Then I decided to give it a try professionally and I filled out the cricket form and didn’t even tell my dad. I had told my dad that I was going swimming, but I was actually playing cricket. Then one day, my name appeared in the newspaper, and my dad found out. He got angry and said, ‘Why are you lying?’ He told me to quit cricket, and I stopped playing. Then I started feeling very sad and didn’t know what to do. So, I talked to my dad for permission to play cricket, and he agreed.
Fanancial struggle and mother’s sacrifice
I started playing cricket and told my dad that I needed a bat to play. When he asked how much it would cost, I said it would be 800 rupees. As soon as he heard 800, his mindset changed again, because at that time, 800 rupees was a lot of money and he started trying to convince me not to play cricket but my determination to play cricket convinced my dad to bought a bat for me.
I started playing professionally and was doing well; my coach also mentioned this to me. I needed a kit bag now, so I told my dad to get me one. He asked how much it would cost, and I said the SS kit would be 8000 rupees. As soon as he heard that, my dad immediately said, ‘Have you gone mad? use the bat I got you and play with that.
I was taking a shower when suddenly I didn’t know what came over me. I shouted from the bathroom, ‘If you don’t get me the kit bag, I’ll leave home!. As soon as my mom heard this, she got scared. She took off her gold chain and brought it to my dad, saying, ‘Sell this and buy him the kit bag. So, that’s how I got my first kit bag.
Selection for IPL
Kartik Tyagi played a significant role in Dhruv Jurel’s IPL trials. In 2020-21, when Kartik was playing for the Rajasthan Royals, Dhruv Jurel had requested Kartik Tyagi for the trial so Kartik urged the video analyst to review Dhruv’s batting and keeping videos from the Under-19 matches, ultimately convincing them to consider Dhruv for the trial. The trial didn’t go exceptionally well, but Kumar Sangakkara and Zubin Bharucha were impressed by a shot Dhruv Jurel played—he hit a six over cover that caught their attention. Then, during the auction, Rajasthan Royals bought Dhruv Jurel at the base price.
Red ball Cricket and debut for India
In the 2022-23 Ranji season, the Uttar Pradesh Ranji team needed a wicketkeeper because their main wicketkeeper got injured. The management included Dhruv Jurel in the playing eleven as a wicketkeeper. In his very first Ranji match against Nagaland, Dhruv scored an impressive 249 runs. This outstanding performance in the Ranji season led to his selection for the India A team as well.
In 2024, when India was set to play a Test series against England, the team needed a second wicketkeeper since Rishabh Pant was still unavailable. The only wicketkeeper in the squad at that time was Srikar Bharat. Considering Dhruv Jurel’s impressive first-class stats and his wicketkeeping skills, the selectors decided to add his name to the team as a wicketkeeper.
