CHENNAI: On a drama-filled day of Test cricket in Colombo — rain stoppages, running mix-ups, stop-start play, rain, bad light, truckload of runs... it had everything — the one thing India take home is Dhruv Jurel's moment of glory under the sun and the celebration that followed. Jurel, after cruising for a quick run that almost caught him short on the 171st ball he faced, took off his helmet, moved his sleeve to show off his biceps and smiled.
The celebration, however, was not about his fitness, strength or muscle, but the tattoo on his arm. Written in Hindi, it read 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'. While it had a historical reference — India's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri raised the slogan in 1965 during the India-Pakistan war and a severe food shortage — for Jurel, it was more personal. The youngster, celebrating his second Test century, was paying homage to his ancestors; his father was in the army and grandfather was a farmer. "It's my story. My grandfather was a farmer and my father was a soldier, so those are my roots where I came from. I don't want to forget it. That celebration for my father and grandfather," Jurel would explain after his unbeaten 117 that helped India declare at 503/9 before reducing Sri Lanka to 8/2 at stumps.
The celebration may have been about his roots, but the innings itself and the milestone was all about Jurel coming of age as a specialist batter. Less than a year ago, Jurel was in tatters after a twin failure against South Africa as a specialist batter in Guwahati. India had been crushed by the Proteas team and Jurel, entrusted as No 4 in Shubman Gill's absence, had not come good, along with the rest of the team. But unlike others, Jurel primarily was a keeper-batter.
So, come the next Test, his place was questioned. And the fact that he could not convert starts against Afghanistan only added to it. Even before this Sri Lanka tour, the last-minute addition of Sarfaraz Khan added more pressure on the youngster. But, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the captain had backed Jurel to come good. It was Gambhir, who made him a specialist batter in Guwahati and he wanted Jurel to deliver with the bat. First came the fifty in Galle. But a big score was needed. For he is not just a back-up option but a specialist batter at No 6 who has to hold innings with tail and pile on whenever the situation demands.
Monday was that day. Jurel batted time, along with Rishabh Pant, and the rest of the tail. While Pant did Pant things, Jurel defended the good balls and pounced on anything that was short or full. It may not have been an innings that made people sit up and go gaga about, but one that people would think about and smile and applaud quietly.
However, there was nothing quiet about the celebrations in the dressing room. When he almost got run out, with an ecstatic Mohammed Siraj at the other end, at 99, Gambhir, Gill and the teammates were in splits. But then followed the wide grin and applause. For them, it was a vindication of sorts with Jurel rising to the occasion and making the place his own. For Jurel, however, it was a pat on the back for doing his job and putting the team in a position of strength.
"While batting, I was just trying to bat in partnerships because as coach said, captain said, they always say 'try to assess the condition, situation, and just pick your pockets and play positively'," Jurel explained.
Soon after the declaration, he was out in the middle, keeping wickets, with Pant feeling pain in his shoulders. India have already taken two wickets to put Sri Lanka on the back foot and things could come to a close if there is a full day's play on Tuesday. Even if it doesn't end on Day 3, the climax seems inevitable at this point. For Jurel has all but put India in a winning position as a specialist batter.