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'Golden sacrifice for a golden dream' - Fans react as Dhruv Jurel recalls early struggles and parents' sacrifice following maiden Test call-up

The omission of Ishan Kishan is probably the reason behind Jurel's selection in the 16-man squad for the series that begins on January 25th at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad.

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Mathew K
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Dhruv Jurel (Source: Twitter)

Dhruv Jurel (Source: Twitter)

When the Indian Cricket Board announced the squad for the first two Tests against England on Friday, everyone was surprised to see a name that had not been closely linked with the national team. As KL Rahul's second backup wicket-keeper, Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter Dhruv Jurel has been included in the squad - his maiden call-up to the national team in any format. 

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The omission of Ishan Kishan is probably the reason behind Jurel's selection in the 16-man squad for the series that begins on January 25th at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad. Kishan, who opted out of the South Africa tour earlier due to mental fatigue, remains sidelined in India's first home series in the 2023-25 ​​World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Either way, it opened the door for a dream come true moment for Jurel, one of the team's three wicketkeepers along with Rahul and KS Bharath. The 22-year-old was over the moon after seeing his name in the squad. He took to his Instagram handle to share his joy, posting: “Having the tears of joy and happiness". 

My mom sold her gold chain and got me a cricket kit: Dhruv Jurel 

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Jurel was part of India A squad that played two matches against South Africa in December last year. Coming after an impressive 69 in the second match at Benoni, the young lad recently made a 63 for UP against Kerala in a first-round group game of the Ranji Trophy. Jural, who made his first-class debut last year, has so far scored 790 runs at an average of 46 from 15 matches, including a century and five half-centuries. 

The Agra-born cricketer's journey so far is nothing short of inspirational. Coming from a humble background, Jurel is very grateful for where he is at the moment. Recalling his early struggles, the future star of Indian cricket shared how his parents, especially his mother, made sacrifices to make his dream come true. 

"I used to study in Army School. During holidays I thought about joining cricket camp at Eklavya Stadium in Agra. I filled up the form but did not tell my dad. When he came to know, he scolded me. However, he borrowed Rs 800 to buy me a cricket bat. When I told him I needed a cricket kit, dad asked me how much it would cost. I told him about Rs six to seven thousand and he told me to stop playing. But I was adamant and locked myself in the bathroom. Then my mom sold her gold chain and got me cricket kit," Jurel told Dainik Jagran. 

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It is not sure whether Jurel will get a chance to make it to the Playing XI as senior player Rahul is in the squad. However, the opportunity to share the dressing room with greats like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah will definitely benefit him in his journey ahead.

Here's how fans reacted to Dhruv Jurel's comments after earning his maiden Test selection call: 

 

 

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