Dhruv Jurel slams fighting hundred for India A ahead of New Zealand Test series

Dhruv Jurel has raised his stakes ahead of the India-New Zealand Test series with a hundred in the A game in Christchurch. | Photo Credit: PTI

Dhruv Jurel, part of India’s Test squad for the upcoming New Zealand series, struck a dour hundred on the second day of the second four-day fixture between India A and New Zealand A at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday.

Jurel, who scored his second Test hundred against Sri Lanka in Colombo in August, bounced back from a disappointing outing in the first four-day game in Lincoln, where he managed scores of one and two.

India A was struggling at 160 for six when Jurel joined Manav Suthar to put together a 62-run partnership and steady the innings. Following Suthar’s departure, Jurel continued the recovery alongside Akash Deep, adding another 50 runs to take India A closer to the 300-run mark.

Jurel’s hundred could also strengthen his case as a wicketkeeping option for the Test series, with Rishabh Pant’s availability still subject to fitness clearance. Pant, who sustained an injury during the Irani Trophy, has been named in the Test squad and is also likely to feature in the third India A-New Zealand A fixture in Lincoln, beginning November 7.