Dhruv Jurel's recent appearance in a Test match in England has etched his name in the record books, marking him as one of the few Indian cricketers to achieve a unique distinction. While he may have officially played in only one Test during the series, Jurel's contributions were significant across multiple games.

Jurel was initially selected as the second wicketkeeper in the squad, backing up Rishabh Pant. However, unforeseen circumstances led to Jurel playing a more active role than anticipated. In the third Test, Pant suffered an injury to his left index finger on the first day, forcing him to leave the field. Jurel stepped in, taking over the wicketkeeping duties for the remainder of the match. A similar situation unfolded in the subsequent Test in Manchester, where Pant sustained a toe fracture on the first day, leading to Jurel once again donning the gloves.

Finally, with Pant ruled out of the fifth Test, Jurel was named in the playing XI, making his first official appearance in a Test match in England. Although his scores of 19 and 34 weren't the highest, his solid glovework on the final two days, particularly on a seaming pitch, drew praise from various quarters.

Notably, Jurel has achieved something quite rare: he has won every Test match he has played in. According to News18, he is the first Indian player to accomplish this feat in at least five matches. Worldwide, West Indies' Eldine Baptiste holds the record, having won all 10 of his Test matches during his career from 1983 to 1990.

Prior to this England series, Jurel had already made a name for himself. In January 2024, he received his first call-up to the Indian team for the Test series against England and made his debut in the third Test in Rajkot on February 15, 2024. In his first innings, he scored 46 runs off 104 balls. During the fourth Test against England in Ranchi, Jurel played a crucial inning, scoring 90 runs off 149 balls, which helped keep India in the game. He was named player of the match for his efforts in both innings, helping India secure a series-winning victory over England.

Beyond his contributions with the bat, Jurel has also demonstrated his skills as a wicketkeeper. In the third Test at Lord's, he took three catches, dismissing key England batsmen. He followed this up with more catches and stumpings in the fourth Test in Manchester. In the fifth Test at The Oval, Jurel took a stunning catch to dismiss Joe Root.

Jurel's success can be attributed to his team-first attitude. As he stated in an interview with the BCCI, a team man is someone who always tries to do whatever helps the team win, whether they are in the playing XI or not. This dedication and willingness to contribute in any way possible have made him a valuable asset to the Indian team.

His journey began in Agra, where he was born on January 21, 2001. He later moved to a cricket academy in Noida to pursue his passion. Jurel represented Uttar Pradesh at the U-14, U-16, and U-19 levels. He was also the vice-captain of the Indian U-19 team at the 2020 World Cup. In February 2022, he was acquired by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL auction.