Indian batter Dhruv Jurel etched his name in cricket history by scoring an unbeaten 115, becoming only the second Indian to achieve a Test century at No. 7 or lower in Sri Lanka, significantly bolstering India’s position in the ongoing Test match.
Key Points
- Dhruv Jurel scored an unbeaten 115, marking his second Test century in international cricket.
- Jurel is only the second Indian batter to achieve a Test century at No. 7 or lower in Sri Lanka, after Hardik Pandya.
- His century contributed to India’s declaration at 503/9 on day two, establishing a dominant position in the second Test.
- Jurel formed a crucial 112-run partnership with Rishabh Pant for the seventh wicket, aiding India’s recovery.
- The 25-year-old displayed both patience and aggression, hitting nine fours and two sixes during his innings.
Indian batter Dhruv Jurel etched his name in the record books on Monday, becoming only the second Indian batter to score a Test century at No. 7 or lower in Sri Lanka, after Hardik Pandya.
Jurel’s Patient Knock And Aggressive Finish
Jurel remained unbeaten on 115 as India declared at 503/9 on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC Ground in Colombo, putting the visitors firmly in command.
Jurel reached his second Test century in 171 balls, hitting nine fours. He showed patience in reaching the landmark, playing out 13 dot balls between 99 and 100, before celebrating with a six off Asitha Fernando after completing his century.
The 25-year-old then continued his aggressive approach, hitting another six off Asitha as India crossed the 500-run mark. He remained unbeaten alongside Prasidh Krishna, who was on four, when India declared.
Historical Significance And Crucial Partnerships
Jurel’s century made him the second Indian batter after Pandya to score a Test hundred from No. 7 or lower in Sri Lanka. Pandya had scored 108 at Pallekele in 2017.
The last Indian batter to score a Test century from No. 7 or lower was Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made 114 against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in December 2024.
Jurel’s hundred was also the culmination of a crucial partnership with Rishabh Pant on the second morning. The pair added 112 runs off 152 balls for the seventh wicket, helping India recover strongly and take control of the match.
Pant was dismissed for 63 off 89 balls early in the second session, but Jurel continued to anchor India’s lower order. He then added 39 runs with Manav Suthar, who made 18, before Prabath Jayasuriya dismissed the all-rounder.
Jurel eventually found an able partner in Mohammed Siraj, with the duo carrying India from 475/8 to 503/9 before the declaration.
Source: www.rediff.com
