UP T20 League: Dhruv Jurel's Classy Straight-Bat Six Steals The Show

Dhruv Jurel, the right-handed wicketkeeper-batter, has quickly elevated his status over the past year. After making a mark with the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2023 and delivering standout performances in his debut Test series for India, Jurel is now captaining the Gorakhpur Lions in the second edition of the UP T20 League. He has kicked off the tournament in impressive fashion, first scoring a half-century in the opening match and then following it up with a superb innings of 66 off 34 balls against the Kashi Rudras.

In this knock, Jurel hit six fours and five sixes, with the highlight being his stylish straight-bat six off Atal Bihari Vipin Rai. Early in the second over, Jurel executed a flawless extra-cover drive on the third delivery. On the fifth ball of the over, he demonstrated his strong capabilities by lifting a full delivery straight down the ground for a six. The perfect power and technique helped him shine through the innings.

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Aryan Juyal, who scored a century in Gorakhpur Lions opening match, added a half-century to his tally, contributing significantly in team's total of 173. With Jurel and Juyal leading the charge, the team set a strong score. Jurel, who is gearing up for the Duleep Trophy, could potentially be chosen as a wicketkeeper for the upcoming Bangladesh series alongside Rishabh Pant, provided he maintains his outstanding form.