Jurel shares experience of batting with Rishabh Pant in 2nd Test

Dhruv Jurel and Rishabh Pant combined for a 112-run partnership for India’s seventh wicket during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Monday, August 24. The stand lifted India from 307 for 6 to 419 as the team moved towards a first-innings total of 503 for 9 declared. Pant contributed 60 runs to the partnership while Jurel remained unbeaten on 115, his second Test century, which included nine fours and two sixes.

Jurel spoke about the value of batting alongside Pant and the guidance he receives from the senior wicketkeeper-batter. Both players, being wicketkeepers and middle-order batters for India, give them shared understanding of the demands of that role in Test cricket.

“We all know Pant is such a terrific player and what he has done for India in Australia and England. So, whenever he is in, I only seek his advice, because he has so much experience. So, I always ask him for advice as, what I should do in a particular situation,” Jurel said.

Learning from Pant’s experience and style

Jurel highlighted how Test cricket demands different approaches from players and how watching Pant bat provides valuable learning. The younger wicketkeeper-batter acknowledged that he cannot replicate Pant’s style, which has been developed over years of international cricket. Instead, Jurel focuses on identifying which bowlers to attack and which spells to play cautiously, decisions he often discusses with Pant during their time together at the crease.

“As you can see, Test cricket has different ways of playing, and it makes the game beautiful. When you play with Pant, it’s a very terrific experience. I can’t play like him, the way he has been playing since childhood. My game plan is to see which bowler should I take down, which spell should I play, and I always ask Pant because he is a wicketkeeper, I am a wicketkeeper, and we play in the middle order, so it’s a very good experience,” Jurel said.

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Sri Lanka finished Day 2 at 8/2, with Lahiru Udara and Prabath Jayasuriya being the two batters dismissed by Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar, respectively.

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