Dhruv Jurel shines ahead of New Zealand series with maiden century outside Asia

Resuming on overnight score of 99, India A captain Jurel completed his eighth first-class hundred off 158 deliveries on Sunday, November 1 to power India A to 346. He had walked in to bat on the first day at 131-3, with the team collapsing further to 160-6 after Devdutt Padikkal’s 80.

Jurel rescued the team from that position, first adding 62 for the seventh wicket with Manav Suthar, and then another 75 with Akash Deep. He fell after adding only five to his overnight score but Akash Deep carried the fight with 68 to push the total.

Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Siraj responded well with the new ball, picking up three wickets inside the first eight overs but the rest of the bowling attack could not make an impact. Matthew Boyle (107*) and Dean Foxcroft (80*) stitched an unbroken 205-run stand, taking NZ A to 218-3 at stumps on day two.

This was Jurel’s third first-class century away from home but the first outside Asia. He came close to reaching the mark a few times, most notably during his 94 off 120 against England Lions at Canterbury in 2025. In November 2024, he made 80 and 68 against Australia A at Melbourne, and 69 against South Africa A at Benoni a year earlier.

Now 25, Jurel will take confidence from this knock after returning 1 and 2 from two innings in the first “Test”, at Lincoln. Since his debut in February 2024, he has played 12 Tests and has done reasonably well, scoring 651 runs at an average of 40.68 with two hundreds and two fifties.

Jurel has batted at all positions for India from number four to eight, but the team management seems to have settled him at seven lately, with Rishabh Pant donning the gloves. In India's last Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo, he struck an unbeaten 115 from No.7.

India are scheduled to play a two-match series in New Zealand from November 19, where Jurel's role will be crucial.