Star India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel gave a scintillating demonstration of his technical prowess with a fighting century, carrying India A to a respectable 255 all out after a top-order collapse against South Africa A on the first day of the four-day match in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Asked to bat first, India A were in serious trouble, some of their own making, at 126 for seven. However, Jurel (132 not out, 175b, 12×4, 4×6) and Kuldeep Yadav (20, 87b) put together a doughty eighth-wicket partnership of 79 runs to rescue the team.
Jurel’s innings stood out for its marvellous adherence to batting technique, helping him survive the challenging conditions, pitch, and relentless South African bowlers under largely overcast skies.
His batting might
not cover vast expanses or involve daring strokes, but it is based on stunning compactness that allows him to accumulate runs stealthily.
Even the six he hit off off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen over long on was more about timing and precise ball placement rather than explosive power.
Later, his slog-swept six off Subrayen too was not an angry shot but demonstrated his judgment and awareness of the field setting around him.
On other occasions, he either leaned on his front foot to smother the spin or waited late to turn the balls to the on-side for risk-free singles.
The pacers Tshepo Moreki and Tiaan Van Vuuren (4/52) found steady bounce off the pitch here under overcast skies, but Jurel was quick to climb over the balls to guide them past the point fielder for boundaries.
Jurel flicked when the South African bowlers slanted the balls onto his pads and pulled out drives when they pitched up to him.
On the day, his initial movement and footwork were so decisive that he seldom got stuck in no-man’s land while playing his shots.
The only time he looked uncomfortable at the crease was when he attempted a lap shot in vain off Van Vuuren.
Soon, the 24-year-old scored his fourth first-class hundred with a single off Van Vuuren, much to the delight of his teammates and a few spectators who hung around the periphery of the BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds.
It was also his third hundred in the last seven innings, having previously scored centuries against Australia A in Lucknow and the West Indies in Ahmedabad.
Jurel had an unflappable companion in Kuldeep, who was dropped on four during his rescue mission. They batted for 124 minutes and 173 deliveries across two sessions to thwart the visitors’ advance.
Kuldeep had a slight collision with South African wicketkeeper Connor Esterhuizen that required a medical check-up, which was the lone discomforting moment during his long stay. However, a mix-up with Jurel led to his run out.
Their stand didn’t have any support from the top-order, as Sai Sudharsan (17, 52b), KL Rahul (19 off 40) and captain Rishabh Pant (24 off 20) got out after getting starts.
Sudharsan was pinned on the back foot by Subrayen with a quicker one, and Rahul’s drive off Van Vuuren ended in the big gloves of Esterhuizen.
Pant was all aggression, but his desire to dominate Moreki after getting hit on his left thumb led him to slap the pacer straight to Marques Ackermann at mid-off.
Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran didn’t even get a start, as he played all over an incoming ball from Van Vuuren to be caught in front and Devdutt Padikkal nicked the left-armer to Esterhuizen as India A wilted.
(With PTI Inputs)
