India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel recently shared a memorable moment he experienced with England’s Joe Root during the five-match Test series earlier this year. Jurel, who made his Test debut in the series, impressed many with his grit and determination. However, the incident he recounted took place in the following Test in Ranchi, where Jurel found himself in a tricky situation.

India was reeling at 161/5, chasing England’s first-innings total of 353. Jurel had contributed 30* runs by the end of the day’s play, leaving India at 219/7. Despite his performance, Jurel admitted he couldn’t sleep that night, torn between strategies for the following day.

“I was making plans, thinking if I should go for the half-century against the old ball or wait for the new one. Eventually, I managed to get around 36 before they took the new ball, and Anderson returned,” Dhruv Jurel shared during a conversation with Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel.

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Dhruv Jurel also revealed how Joe Root, despite having shared an IPL dressing room with him, began sledging him relentlessly during the match.

“He was all aggressive and continuously sledging. With the British accent, I couldn’t even understand half of what he was saying,” Dhruv Jurel laughed. “Even Bairstow joined in. I was shocked because Root and I played together in the IPL, so I asked him, ‘Why are you sledging me?’ He simply replied, ‘We are all playing for our country now.’”

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Despite the pressure and the unexpected sledging, Jurel played a pivotal role in the match. He scored a gritty 90 off 149 balls, helping India push their total past 300. In the second innings, he added an unbeaten 39*, contributing to India’s five-wicket victory. His resilience and performance earned him the Player of the Match award, cementing his arrival on the international stage.