Duleep Trophy: Dhruv Jurel falls cheaply; fails to seize the opportunity

It was a morning to forget in Bengaluru for young wicketkeeper batter Dhruv Jurel, who had a tumultuous stay in the middle at the Chinnaswamy Stadium before falling for 2 off 16 balls.

Jurel walked into bat inside the first 30 minutes of the day after Riyan Parag fell to the bowling of Navdeep Saini, caught by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant due to a fine tickle. 

The 23-year-old, however, also ended up falling victim to the red-hot Saini, who trapped him LBW. Jurel reviewed but to no avail, as he departed for a disappointing single-digit score.

With Rishabh Pant back in the red-ball scheme of things and with KL Rahul looking sharp as ever in the whites, Jurel needed a big showing here in the first round to stake a claim for being in the squad for the Bangladesh Tests. The right-hander played in the final three Tests against England due to an injury crisis, but it was always going to be difficult for him to retain his place — in both the squad and the starting XI — with both Rahul and Pant returning. 

The 2 (16) here in the first innings has put Jurel in a spot where he has no option but to go big in the second innings of this game — if he does get a chance to bat, that is — in order to impress the selectors.

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