Dhruv Jurel's Wicketkeeping Under Scrutiny Despite Impressive Performance

Dhruv Jurel's Performance in the Lord's Test

On the fourth day of the Test match at Lord's, reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, filling in for the injured Rishabh Pant, adopted a strategy similar to that of Jamie Smith during India's batting. He positioned himself close to the stumps to unsettle the batsmen, a tactic that proved effective for both players. Jurel's proximity to the wicket led to Harry Brook playing a poor shot, resulting in his dismissal. While Jurel's performance against fast bowlers was commendable, fellow junior wicketkeeper Mohan Chaturvedi pointed out several areas for improvement in his technique.

Chaturvedi remarked, "Dhruv made a smart choice by moving up to keep against the pacers, but he was catching the balls too far to the side. This technique increases the risk of missing edges, as seen when the first ball from Akash Deep after lunch took the edge of Joe Root's bat, which Jurel failed to catch, though it was ruled a no-ball."

He further noted, "A significant flaw in Dhruv's technique is that his right hand isn't fully behind the ball, causing it to miss the center of his palm. Often, his gloves close prematurely before he collects the ball. He needs to focus on positioning himself behind the ball and catching it with his body. Addressing these issues promptly will greatly benefit him."

Dhruv Jurel can't be the backup keeper for Rishabh Pant; he is significantly behind in wicketkeeping skills and struggles on flat pitches!

— Pranchal Kapadiya (@PranchalKapadi4) July 13, 2025

Despite some initial praise for Jurel's performance on the fourth day, opinions shifted after lunch. His continued reliance on his thumb to catch the ball while standing resulted in several missed opportunities, leading to a more critical assessment of his skills.