Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has applauded Dhruv Jurel for his gritty hundred in the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, October 4 as well. He opined on his technique and temperament, urging the team management to play him as a proper batter at No. 3 in Tests as well.

Speaking to India Today’s YouTube channel, the 76-year-old said: “I think the biggest positive was Dhruv Jurel because he showed that he’s capable of batting anywhere in the order. He’s obviously batting at the number that Rishabh Pant used to bat, and then Rishabh’s injury sadly meant that he was out, but it gave Jurel a chance, and what we’ve seen from this man is great temperament. What I like about the man is that he’s got the technique, sure, but he’s also got the temperament.”

“So, he could be slotted anywhere, slotted at No. 3. It doesn’t have to be slotted at five or six, even if Rishabh comes back, and when Rishabh is okay, he comes as an automatic selection for the Test team, no question about it. So, Rishabh will bat five, and you can have Dhruv Jurel at 3; you can still have two players [as wicketkeepers]. As a batter, he can find a place in the team, and that’s the important thing,” he further added.

However, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has praised Dhruv Jurel while picking him as the reserve wicketkeeper in Rishabh Pant’s absence as well.

He said (via JioHotstar): “Jurel usually bats down the order, Rahul bats there as well. I mean, you have seen how good a player Dhruv is.”