India's Dhruv Jurel celebrates after scoring a century on the second day of the first Test cricket match between India and West Indies at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)Indian wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel dedicated his maiden Test hundred to the Indian Army after reaching the landmark on Day 2 of the first Test against the West Indies in Ahmedabad on Friday. Jurel did his trademark salute celebration after reaching his half-century, and later did the gun salute celebration. After the close of play on the second day, he dedicated the celebration to his father, a Kargil veteran.
“The salute (celebration) after reaching my fifty was for my father, but for the hundred, it was something that I had in my mind for a very long time. Because I have been so close to the Indian Army, I’ve seen my father since my childhood… what we do on the ground and what they do on the battlefield is very difficult and you cannot compare that,” Jurel explained about the celebration.
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Further adding, “I will always have my respect and whatever I will do in the future will be for them. I would like to dedicate this to them (the Indian Army) for what they do. I have seen them closely, how it is like, and I remain very fascinated in those things. I also used to keep asking my father about the same,” he added.
Jurel scored a career-best 125, and had Rishabh Pant not injured his toe the Uttar Pradesh player would have been warming the bench. Pant is undergoing his recovery at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, after fracturing his toe in England. Jurel doesn’t mind waiting for his chances, as he termed it a ‘huge privilege’ to be in the Indian squad.
He is aware that many don’t get a chance to play Test cricket. He is following the same routines and discipline in the nets, and he says he doesn’t compromise in that. Despite being on the bench, Jurel visualizes the scenario by sitting in the dugout.
“I do a lot of visualisation, whether I am playing or not, so when I play a match, it doesn’t feel like anything new. I know I’ve gone through this and what the feeling is like. I visualise everything, from walking in (to the middle) to taking a stance, everything. Nothing feels different. I am always prepared, whether I am playing or not. I try to keep myself ready,” he said.
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