Dhruv Chand Jurel

Dhruv Chand Jurel was born on 21 January 2001 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. He is an Indian right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman who has represented Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket, Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League and India at the international level.

Jurel developed an interest in cricket at a young age after attending a summer camp. His father, Nem Singh Jurel, is a former Indian Army serviceman and Kargil War veteran. Initially, his father wanted Dhruv to pursue a career in the armed forces, but Jurel’s growing passion for cricket eventually led him to pursue the sport professionally.

He progressed through Uttar Pradesh’s junior cricket system and represented the India Under-19 side. Jurel was part of India’s squad for the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he served as vice-captain. He had earlier been associated with India’s successful Under-19 campaign in the 2019 Asia Cup.

Jurel made his T20 debut for Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in January 2021 before making his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy in February 2022. During his early domestic career, he produced a notable innings of 249 runs for Uttar Pradesh, establishing himself as one of India’s promising young wicketkeeper-batsmen.

In the 2022 IPL auction, Jurel was acquired by Rajasthan Royals. He eventually made his IPL debut against Punjab Kings on 5 April 2023 and immediately attracted attention by scoring an unbeaten 32 runs from 15 balls. He subsequently developed a reputation as an effective finisher for Rajasthan Royals.

Jurel’s international breakthrough came in February 2024 when he made his Test debut for India against England in Rajkot. He scored 46 runs in his debut Test and followed it with a memorable performance in the Ranchi Test, where he scored 90 in India’s first innings and contributed crucially with the bat and gloves. His performances helped India secure the Test series against England.

He later made his T20I debut for India against Zimbabwe on 6 July 2024. Jurel continued to be part of India’s wider international setup and remained associated with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

In 2025, Jurel continued his development across domestic and international cricket. He was also named captain of Central Zone for the 2025–26 Duleep Trophy season, reflecting his growing leadership responsibilities.

In 2026, Jurel continued to feature in India’s Test setup and was included in India’s Test squad for the Afghanistan series. He was subsequently named captain and wicketkeeper of India A for the multi-day matches in Sri Lanka.

Known for his calm temperament, wicketkeeping ability and aggressive finishing skills, Jurel has emerged as one of India’s promising young wicketkeeper-batsmen. His journey from age-group cricket in Uttar Pradesh to representing India at the international level has made him a notable name in Indian cricket.