Dhruv Jurel knocks hard on ODI door: Vijay Hazare’s blitz warns selectors ahead of New Zealand series | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: With the imminent announcement of India’s ODI squad for the three-match home series against New Zealand, Dhruv Jurel has ensured that the selectors have little room to ignore it. The young wicketkeeper-batsman delivered a timely and emphatic message through a superb series of scores in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, underlining his credentials in the 50-over format.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!Jurel accumulated over 300 runs in just three matches, starting with an 80 against Hyderabad, followed by 67 against Chandigarh, before producing a sensational unbeaten 160 against Baroda. The final shot, played under pressure and at breathtaking speed, came at the perfect time as India weigh up their options behind the stumps for the ODI series starting January 11.
On Monday, Jurel was the top performer as Uttar Pradesh beat Baroda by 54 runs to consolidate their position at the top of Group B. Coming in after the dismissal of opener Aryan Juyal, Jurel tore apart the Baroda attack, smashing 160 not out from 101 balls, an innings studded with 15 fours and eight sixes. He first added 131 runs with Rinku Singh for the fourth wicket and then stitched a quick 122-run stand with Prashant Veer to propel UP to a mammoth 369 for 7.Baroda’s bowlers had no answer with pacer Rasikh Dar conceding 102 runs in his quota. In response, despite Krunal Pandya’s fighting efforts, Baroda failed, coming out for 315 off the final ball.
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Jurel’s purple patch came amid reports suggesting that Rishabh Pant could be left out of the ODI squad, having not featured in the format since August 2024. This opened up a selection debate involving several wicketkeeper-batsmen. Ishan Kishan, who has already been named in the T20 World Cup squad, remains a strong contender after a prolific domestic season, including a record Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and a blazing hundred from Vijay Hazare.Yet in this crowded race, Jurel’s consistency and impact stand out. Not picked for the T20 World Cup, the 24-year-old let his bat do the talking in the longer white ball format. As the selectors finalize the combinations for the New Zealand series, Jurel’s Vijay Hazare exploits have turned the spotlight firmly in his direction, making his case difficult to ignore.
