Indian fans would have hardly expected their team to be ahead on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England. However, the host overcame the odds with a team effort at the JSCA Stadium on Sunday.
It was triggered by a nerveless Dhruv Jurel, who marshalled the lower order with great control, bringing India from 177 for seven (at Stumps on Day 2) to a far more comfortable 307 at lunch today, before the spinners took over and placed India in command of this Test.
“It is my debut series, so there was a bit of pressure. But when I went out to bat, I only had my team’s needs in my mind. I just wanted to stay out in the middle and make some runs for my team,” Jurel said after Stumps.
The 23-year-old’s efforts were aided by a resolute Kuldeep Yadav, who hit a 131-ball 28. The pair got through a tense period of play at the close of the second day before adding on in the morning session today.
“We had a good understanding because both of us are from UP (Uttar Pradesh). We have played a lot of domestic cricket together. We were speaking a lot to each other in the middle. It was helpful [to bat with him],” Jurel pointed out.
Jurel carried on after Kuldeep was bowled by James Anderson, scoring 54 runs alongside Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. The wicketkeeper batsman was ready to acknowledge his teammates’ efforts.
“It was just that I had to show confidence and faith in them. I had to tell them that they can bat. That was the plan and it worked out well. Both [Siraj and Akash] are decent batters. I just showed faith in them and they batted well,” Jurel added.
The UP-born hitter celebrated his first Test fifty with a salute, which he dedicated to his father, Kargil War veteran Nem Chand, who was in the grandstand.
“The celebration was for my father, who is a Kargil War veteran. I spoke to him yesterday and he had asked me indirectly ‘beta ek bar salute tho dikhade’,” said Jurel with a beaming smile.
With only one over remaining for Lunch and 10 runs needed to reach his first century, Jurel played it cautious, opting to bat for more time. However, he was dismissed by a crisp delivery from left-arm spinner Tom Hartley.
