Dhruv Jurel’s instructor, Phool Chand, remembers him as a confident teenager. According to Chand, Jurel, 13, came alone from Agra to Delhi to see him.
India gave out two first caps ahead of the Rajkot Test against England on Thursday, February 15. While Sarfaraz Khan received most of the attention, it was a significant occasion for Dhruv Jurel, who has also had a difficult path.
In an interview with PTI, the keeper-batter’s coach reminisced about the cricketer’s journey. Chand recalled his first encounter with Dhruv Jurel in 2014, when the 13-year-old approached him without any senior companion.
“Before I could ask anything, the boy said, ‘Sir my name is Dhruv Jurel and please take me in your academy.”
“I didn’t see any parent accompanying him. I thought maybe he is a local boy from Noida but then he said, ‘Sir, I have come all alone from Agra and the friend who had promised to arrange my accommodation at his house isn’t picking up the call.”
Phool Chand
Chand instantly phoned Dhruv Jurel’s father, an ex-armyman who served in the Kargil War in 1999. After speaking with the cricketer’s father, the coach learned that it was his grandfather’s tervi (shraddh), and the child informed his father that he would take the train from Agra to Delhi.
“Seeing a 13-year-old travel alone, I knew this boy is special.”
Phool Chand
Dhruv Jurel originally had no place to reside, but Chand arranged for his stay in a hostel, setting off the cricketer’s trip.
“For a teacher, can there be a bigger day than seeing his student excel” – Dhruv Jurel’s coach
Dhruv Jurel and Chand had a wonderful day on Thursday, when the former received his India Test cap. The latter shared his feelings over the momentous day with PTI:
“For a teacher, can there be a bigger day than seeing his student excel. He is the first among my students who will play Test cricket and second after pacer Shivam Mavi to play international cricket.”
Phool Chand
When asked whether he had any particular message for his pupil before of his Test debut, Chand responded:
“I had messaged him early in the morning that, ‘Is din ko yaadgar banana’ (make this day memorable), and he said, ‘Main apna best dunga, sir’ (I will give my best, sir).”
Phool Chand
Dhruv Jurel replaced Srikar Bharat as keeper-batter for the Rajkot Test after the latter struggled with the willow throughout the first two games.