'Mauka milega, ready rehna': What coach Gautam Gambhir told Dhruv Jurel during England Test series

Time of India

4 days ago

Dhruv Jurel has twice played in the India-England series as a stand-in wicketkeeper. That will change for the fifth Test at The Oval.
NEW DELHI:
Rishabh Pant
injured? No problem. Dhruv Jurel is ready. One signal from coach
Gautam Gambhir
and captain
Shubman Gill
, and the youngster was back behind the stumps — as a substitute wicketkeeper. This happened not once, but twice in the series — first in the third Test at Lord's, and then again in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
But the fifth and final Test at The Oval, starting Thursday, will be a special one for Jurel.
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The 'substitute' tag will no longer appear alongside his name. This time, he will be one of the XI players taking the field — and batting — for India in the series finale against England. Rishabh Pant, the regular wicketkeeper, sustained a foot fracture.
Jurel came into the England series in excellent form, having scored three consecutive fifty-plus scores for India A against the England Lions in unofficial Tests.
Jurel's childhood coach, Parvendra Yadav, credited head coach Gautam Gambhir for backing the young keeper throughout the series. He praised Jurel's never-say-no attitude and hinted that Gambhir had already indicated the youngster could feature at a point.
"That's unfortunate news that Pant is not there. Jurel has already been tested in the series with the gloves and has scored valuable runs, so it's going to be a good opportunity for Dhruv. Gambhir has spoken to him and is impressed with his keeping. 'Mauka milega, ready rehna' — is what Gambhir told him," Parvendra
told
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"Gambhir had a brief chat with him. He motivated him a lot. In fact, he told him, 'You will be the backbone of India's middle order.' 'Jab mauka mile, do better' — that's what Gambhir said to him. Gambhir hailed him and said, 'Acha keeping kiya.' He says every single member of the team is supportive and helpful. 'Mauka milega zarur, intezar karo, keep working hard,'" the coach added.
Gautam Gambhir had a brief chat with him. He motivated him a lot. He told him, 'You will be the backbone of India's middle order', Jab mauka mile, do better', 'Acha keeping kiya.'
Dhruv Jurel's childhood coach Parvendra Yadav
"Gambhir said, 'Dhruv, you have the capability to bat from the No.
5 to No. 8 positions.' It's a challenging role, especially when the team is in deep trouble or needs runs. Coach saab taught him how to prepare for different batting positions. He is learning and applying everything in his game," Jurel's coach added.
Twice in the series, Jurel was asked to don the wicketkeeping gloves. In the third Test he took three catches. In the fourth Test, he displayed sharp reflexes behind the stumps, effecting two stumpings and taking two catches.
"He is close to Shubman Gill. He has played cricket with Shubman. They know each other really well. Shubman backs him. A young captain knows his teammates' strengths," the coach said.
Jurel, who made his Test debut under Rohit Sharma's captaincy against England last year, has played four Tests so far, scoring 202 runs at an average of 40.40.
The 24-year-old made headlines with a gritty 90-run knock against England in Ranchi last year — a performance that firmly established him as one of India's brightest future prospects.
"When I spoke to him, I just said, 'Mauka mila hai to isko pakad ke rakhna hai.' He never says no to anything. He has been keeping really well in the series. He always praises Rohit Sharma. He said, 'Rohit bhaiya to bilkul alag hain.' He keeps the dressing room alive and injects energy into the team. He said he learns a lot from Rohit. Rohit is the one who told him to be fearless. 'Tension mat lena, bilkul bindaas khel, main hoon yaha pe' — these were Rohit's words to him.
Pehla Test kuch nahi hota, har Test pehla aur aakhri hota hai. Then he went on to score 90-odd runs in the match," Parvendra said.
"He told me that now he doesn't feel like a newcomer in the team, and all the credit goes to Rohit bhayya," the coach added.
Dhruv Jurel (Getty Images)
"Pant has also motivated him a lot. In fact, during the series, he sat with Pant and took some keeping tips. He has passed on his keeping skills to him. Not just Pant — his meetings with
MS Dhoni
have changed his life. Dhoni told him to keep a 360-degree angle. How to maintain a 360-degree view — that's what he learnt from Dhoni," he said.
Now, Jurel is set to make his mark — not as a stand-in, but as a member of India's playing XI.
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