‘He’s working really hard’: RR’s Kumar Sangakkara lauds Dhruv Jurel’s selection for India-England Tests

Former Sri Lanka captain and Rajasthan Royals coach Kumar Sangakkara had words of praise for Dhruv Jurel after the wicketkeeper-batter’s inclusion in the Team India squad for the first two Tests against England. Jurel was included as a third wicketkeeping option in the side, after KL Rahul and KS Bharat. “I am very proud and happy because he is one of our key motivators and key performance indicators. He is a really good player, and he’s working really hard,” Sangakkara told reporters on the sidelines of SA20 tournament in South Africa. Dhruv Jurel story: When latest Test squad entrant's mother sold off gold chain for cricket kit Jurel plays for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and made his debut last year in a game against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Guwahati, where he scored 32 runs off 15 deliveries. Jurel, who scored 152 runs from four IPL games last season, boasted of a strike rate of 172.73. Sangakkara also hailed Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was in top form for RR in the IPL last year having amassed 625 runs. That was followed by a maiden India call-up during India’s tour of West Indies in August. Jaiswal went onto score an unbeaten 84 in a T20I against the Windies, while also slamming a century on his Test debut in the same tour. Jaiswal, too, has been named in India’s squad for the first two Tests against England. “He works hard and understands the tactics of the opposition players. And he always plays according to a plan. It takes a lot of work, awareness, and consistency to keep doing what he has always done well,” said Sangakkara. The first of five Tests between India and England will played in Hyderabad, starting from 25 January.