Dhruv Jurel continues to strengthen his case for a permanent spot in India’s Test XI with yet another commanding batting performance. After being India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in the recent two-Test series against the West Indies, where he scored his maiden Test century in Ahmedabad, Jurel faced fresh competition with Rishabh Pant’s return to the squad for the upcoming South Africa Tests.
But the young wicketkeeper has responded in the best way possible: by piling on back-to-back centuries for India A. A day after India named its Test squad, Jurel produced a superb unbeaten 132 in the first innings of the second unofficial Test against South Africa A in Bengaluru. And he didn’t stop there.
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On Saturday, he backed it up with another brilliantly crafted century in the second innings, reaching the milestone in 159 balls and striking 12 boundaries along the way. He brought up his hundred by punching Tiaan van Vuuren through the off side early in the 86th over.
Dhruv Jurel’s life lately: Wake up, score a 100 for your team, repeat! 💯💗 pic.twitter.com/KNVkJ9iVXd
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 8, 2025
Walking in at No. 7, Jurel stitched together a crucial 150-plus stand with Harsh Dubey, who contributed a fluent 84 off 116. Their partnership not only rescued India A from a shaky position but also showcased Jurel’s growing maturity as a middle-order presence.
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Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant gave India A a scare after retiring hurt earlier in the day. The 28-year-old took three heavy blows in quick succession — first on the helmet, then the left elbow, and finally on the abdomen — forcing him to walk off. Pant was on 17 off 22 when he left the field, but in typical fashion, he returned later and smashed an entertaining 65 off 54.
As the Test series against South Africa approaches, Jurel’s timely surge in form sets up an intriguing selection battle — and puts the pressure right back on the team management.
