Dhruv Jurel, the Indian wicket-keeper batter, brought up his maiden hundred in Test cricket during the first Test of the two-match series against West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on
Friday, October 3. The 24-year-old etched his name in the history books by becoming the 12th wicket-keeper batter to score a hundred for India, joining the likes of MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, and Farokh Engineer, among others.
After getting to the three-figure score on the 190th ball of the innings, Dhruv Jurel celebrated by holding his bat vertically before moving it from his right to left in front of the thousands of fans in stadium and teammates in the dressing room. In an interview after the close of play on day two, he revealed that the gesture was for the Indian Army, dedicating his hundred to them after doing an army salute in respect to his Kargil war hero father Nem Chand upon going past the 50-run mark earlier in the day.
Dhruv Jurel was quoted as saying about the maiden Test hundred celebration, as per NDTV Sports, “The salute (celebration) after reaching my fifty was for my father, but for the hundred, it (celebration) was something that I had in my mind for a very long time because I have been so close to the Indian Army, I've seen my father since my childhood. What we do on the ground and what they do on the battlefield is very difficult and you cannot compare that. I will always have my respect and whatever I will do in the future will be for them.”
I will like to dedicate the hundred to Indian Army for what they do: Dhruv Jurel
After revealing the meaning behind the gesture upon reaching the milestone moment in Indian colours on the cricket field, Dhruv Jurel also sent a special message to the Indian Army, which read, “I will like to dedicate this (hundred) to them (Indian Army) for what they do. I have seen them closely how it is like and I remain very fascinated in those things. I also used to keep asking my father. I will dedicate it to those who deserve.” The batting masterclass from the Indian wicket-keeper came to an end before the close of play on day two at the hands of debutant Khary Pierre.
His 125 off 210 with 15 fours and three sixes helped India find themselves in a dominating position at stumps on day two, reaching 448/5 in response to West Indies scoring just 162 runs in their first innings.
