I didn't understand half of those words: Dhruv Jurel reveals how Joe Root sledged him in Ranchi Test

Indian cricketer Dhruv Jurel recalled about an intense moment from his debut Test series against England earlier this year. Jurel, who made a notable entrance into international cricket with a solid 46 in Rajkot, faced a challenging situation in the Ranchi Test that followed.

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Dhruv Jurel recalls sledging from Joe Root

During the Ranchi Test match, Dhruv Jurel found himself under pressure as he was approaching a critical milestone. “I couldn’t sleep the night before the match. I was on 30 not out and was mentally preparing for the next day,” Jurel shared in an interview with Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel. 

“I was considering whether to push for a half-century with the old ball, or wait and face the new ball. Ultimately, I managed to score 36 before the new ball was taken and James Anderson came back into the attack.”

As Dhruv Jurel navigated through this challenging phase, he encountered a new kind of pressure from the English side. Former England captain Joe Root, who has played with Jurel at Rajasthan Royals , started sledging him while he was batting in the middle.  

“Joe Root was extremely aggressive and constantly sledging me,” Jurel recalled. “With his British accent, I didn’t understand half of what he was saying. Even Jonny Bairstow joined in. I was taken aback because Root and I had played together in the IPL . I asked him, ‘Why are you sledging me?’ and he responded, ‘We are all playing for our country now.’”

Despite the verbal barrages, Jurel showcased remarkable resilience and skill. He went on to score a valiant 90 off 149 balls, which included six fours and two sixes, helping India post a total beyond 300. In the second innings, Jurel contributed an unbeaten 39, playing a crucial role in India’s successful chase of 192. His partnership with Sarfaraz Khan, which added 62 runs for the fifth wicket, was pivotal to the team's victory.

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India won the match by five wickets, and Dhruv Jurel’s stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match award.