During the recently concluded third Test between England and India at Lord’s, an amusing moment involving Team India’s young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel caught the attention of fans. Jurel, who was not part of the original playing XI, was seated near the boundary ropes when a spectator cheekily asked him for some water. The 24-year-old happily obliged, pulling out a bottle from the drinks box and tossing it over to the fan, much to the crowd’s delight.

Though not named in the XI for the Lord’s Test, Jurel found himself playing an important role after Rishabh Pant suffered a blow to his left hand during the second session on Day 1. Jurel stepped in as a substitute wicketkeeper and took charge behind the stumps for the remainder of the match. Notably, he had also sat out the first two Tests of the series but remained prepared to contribute whenever needed.

India, however, endured a crushing 22-run defeat at Lord’s on July 14. Set a target of 193, the visitors fell short despite Ravindra Jadeja’s valiant unbeaten 61 off 181 balls. With this result, England now leads the five-match series 2-1. The fourth Test is scheduled to be played at Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 to 27.

Dinesh Karthik’s Light-Hearted Comment on Jurel's Role

Reacting to Jurel's appearance behind the stumps, former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik had a funny take on the broadcast. He called Jurel's contribution as Pant's replacement, “Rishabh Pant should share his match fees with Dhruv Jurel.” The remark drew laughs and highlighted the critical support role Jurel played under testing circumstances.

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See Also: 'Can you be too hard on Dhruv Jurel?' – Former India player massive claim after ENG vs IND 2025 3rd Test defeat

Pant had already done damage with the bat in the first innings, scoring a fluent 74 off 112 balls before being run out, and had not made a significant score in the second innings when he was clean bowled by Jofra Archer for just 9 runs. The left-hander has been in superb form across the series with 425 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 70.83.

India's 22-run defeat to England in the third Test at Lord's has generated conversations around various important events in the fixture. When chasing 193, India lost their last wicket for 170, thus giving England a vital 2-1 series lead going into the five-match series. One of the talking points was the fact India conceded 32 extras when England scored their second innings total of 192 - a point of contention that transpired to be an incredibly important contribution to the final result.

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar weighed in on the aftermath, particularly focusing on young wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who came in as a stand-in for the injured Rishabh Pant. Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo, Manjrekar questioned whether Jurel should be solely blamed for the extras, particularly byes. He also analyzed his keeping style and highlighted a trend among Indian wicketkeepers. “Can you be too hard on Dhruv Jurel (on extras), because he's come in as a stand-in keeper? Like a lot of Indian keepers, he looks far more accomplished when he is keeping against spinners and when he is close to the stumps,” he said.

Manjrekar further dissected other key aspects of India’s performance. He noted the delay in bringing in off-spinner Washington Sundar during England’s second innings—a move he felt cost India vital runs. Sundar, who eventually ended with four wickets in that inning, was introduced late into the attack, something Manjrekar termed as a tactical misstep.

‘Champion ’Cricketer’—Praise for Ben Stokes

Manjrekar also heaped praise on England captain Ben Stokes for his game awareness and impact throughout the Test match. While Stokes didn’t register a fifty or a five-wicket haul, his influence was felt in crucial moments—be it in the field, with the ball, or through his leadership. “Guys have got hundreds and five wickets; this is a guy who didn't get a fifty or even a five-wicket haul. But this is what Ben Stokes does... You look at the scorecard and wonder what his contribution is. But if you watched the game, you saw the difference that he makes,” he explained.

See Also: India likely to drop 3 players for 4th Test against England at Old Trafford

Pointing to moments such as Stokes orchestrating the dismissal of KL Rahul and managing Bashir’s extended spell despite difficult conditions, Manjrekar concluded by calling him a “champion cricketer” and credited him for turning the tide in England’s favor. Stokes finished the match with 77 runs and five wickets and deservedly claimed the Player of the Match award.

Following a string of poor performances in the current Test series against England, Karun Nair's place in the Indian playing XI for the 4th Test at Old Trafford is in doubt. Nair has struggled to convert starts into big scores, managing only 131 runs at an average of 21.83 in three Tests to date. His best score in this series is only 40. This has opened up debate regarding substitutes for the vital upcoming match. Below are three players who might replace his position:

Sai Sudharsan

This left-handed batsman is a young player who is viewed as a future Indian Test player and might be given one more chance in the Tests. Although he scored a duck in the first innings, he followed it with a composed 30 in the second, showing glimpses of his potential. Sudharsan bats at No. 3—the same spot as Nair—and has been in excellent form in domestic cricket. With a first-class average of 39.93 and a career-best score of 213, he represents a strong long-term option for India in the top order.

Abhimanyu Easwaran

Abhimanyu Easwaran has been a consistent force in India’s domestic circuit and has regularly been part of India A squads. Despite not yet making his Test debut, he carries a wealth of red-ball experience with 7,841 runs at an average of 48.70, including 27 centuries. His recent 80 off 92 balls for India A against England Lions at No. 3 has strengthened his case. Easwaran also led India A against the England Lions and had a gritty 80 in the second innings following a first-innings duck.

See Also: India likely to drop 3 players for 4th Test against England at Old Trafford

Dhruv Jurel

A wicket-keeper batsman, Jurel has made an impression with his batting performance and technique, especially when facing the moving ball. He is a potential candidate to step in place of Nair and provide another layer to the batting unit of the team. He has scored 1,462 runs from 34 first-class matches at a staggering average of 48.73 with one century and 12 half-centuries to his credit. He is also a skilled wicketkeeper with 64 catches and 6 stumpings in first-class cricket. Jurel has played 4 Tests, with 202 runs at an average of 40.40, with one fifty to his name.

While the selectors have the final decision, these three players are strong contenders for the likely absence of Karun Nair in the Indian 4th Test squad against England.

India narrowly missed securing a historic win at the Lord's. Reduced to 112-8 by lunch, a massive defeat was on the cards for the tourists. Ravindra Jadeja emerged as the lone warrior and dragged the game deep, all the way to the last session to keep the Indian hopes alive. At last, the resistance came to an end when Mohammed Siraj failed to keep the ball out of danger and played it back on his stumps, leaving India agonizingly short of their target by 23 runs. 

In the wake of India's heartbreaking Lord's Test defeat, a lot of finger-pointing has already begun as fans look to decipher the possible reasons for India's downfall. One major detail that emerges following the conclusion of the third test is the number of extras that were conceded by India across two innings. A galloping 36 byes were leaked, which brings the substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel under the scanner.

Jurel took over the keeping responsibilities after Pant suffered an injury on day one of the Test. Jurel reportedly struggled to keep as the ball wobbled around viciously through the air, while a few odd deliveries behaved erratically off the pitch. 

See also: [WATCH] Ajay Jadeja echoes India’s emotions following heart-breaking ENG vs IND 3rd Test defeat at Lord’s

Aakash Chopra defends Jurel amid India's defeat at Lord's

Although the former Indian test opener acknowledged Jurel's lapses behind the stumps, he particularly didn't buy into the fact that India went on to lose primarily because of him. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Chopra stressed that Jurel can't be blamed solely for India's defeat and also recognized the challenges of keeping wickets at the Lord's. 

"A narrative is being set that India lost because of the byes Dhruv Jurel conceded, that he came in as a substitute keeper, he didn't bat, Rishabh Pant did that, but the byes he conceded was the only reason. You didn't lose the match because of Dhruv Jurel."

Furthermore, he also dwelt upon the difficult challenges that the keepers have to contend with and pointed out that most of the deliveries which Jurel missed were "ungatherable". 

"There is a problem at Lord's. The ball goes in one direction, and then keeps moving in the other direction with the slope. I was seeing deliveries from (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Mohammed) Siraj, the kid was diving, but wasn't able to reach there. The balls were so far away. If the ball had gone past the batter where it finished, you would have said it's a wide."

Chopra further reiterated that a Test is not lost by the blunder of just one player alone. He shed light on a number of other reasons that led to India's defeat, one of which was India's sudden batting collapse in the first innings that prevented them from getting any lead. Amid criticism from the fans, the cricketer turned commentator has come to Jurel's defence and has urged fans to be less sensitive.

During the second session of the opening day of the Lord’s Test, the visitors India got a blow as the Test vice-captain and wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant left the field due to a painful finger injury.

The five-match Test series between the hosts England and the visitors India, Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, is currently standing in a great situation at 1-1 with three to go. Lord’s in London is hosting the third Test of the series, which started on Thursday (July 10).

After a great battle in the first session of the opening day of the Lord’s Test, where England won the toss and scored 83/2 before the lunch break, the second session also started interestingly, as the visiting pacers controlled the Bazball cricket by hardly conceding easy runs. 

See Also: ENG vs IND 2025: Will Rishabh Pant bat against England in ongoing Lord's Test?

Rishabh Pant injured in the Lord's Test

During the 34th over of the first innings, Pant needed a physio assistant due to discomfort in pain. The first ball of the over ended in a half-stop by the wicket-keeper as the ball hit his index fingertip. Apart from some magic spray, Pant required water and medicine to continue his keeping. However, at the end of that over, Pant left the field and Dhurv Jurel replaced him as a substitute wicketkeeper. 

Dhruv Jurel takes the gloves as Rishabh Pant goes off for treatment on his hand 🔃 pic.twitter.com/LGDgi34IN7

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 10, 2025

Previously, the wicket-keepers couldn’t be substituted in a match. However, since 2017, the law has been changed, as the wicket-keepers can now be replaced just like the other substitute fielders rule, as the replacement can’t bat or bowl (excluding the concussion substitution).   

Dhurv Jurel gets good start in Test cricket

The 24-year-old Dhruv Jurel has played four Tests and four T20Is for India after making his international cricket debut in February 2024. In his four Tests, the right-handed batter scored 202 runs in six innings with an average of 40.40, including one half-century. The 2024 Ranchi Test against England was his second Test, where Jurel won the Player of the Match award for playing the crucial match-winning knocks of 90 and 39 not out. 

After a hard-fought start to the Test series, India might need to consider a few tactical tweaks to keep their edge intact. While the team has shown resilience, a few underperforming spots and strategic imbalances have raised eyebrows. With key moments coming up in the series, there’s talk of changes to the playing XI and names like Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Arshdeep Singh are at the center of that conversation.

Karun Nair’s return to the squad came as a surprise to many. Though he brings experience and a triple century to his name, his long break from the Test setup and recent form have left room for debate. India could instead opt for Dhruv Jurel, a promising young wicketkeeper-batter. With Rishabh Pant playing solely as a batter post-recovery, including Jurel would bring better balance to the side giving India a solid glove-man and a dependable lower-order batter.

The second change could involve bringing in Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Shardul Thakur. While Shardul has often stepped in as a “bits-and-pieces” player, his recent outings have lacked bite with both bat and ball. NKR, on the other hand, has been making noise with consistent performances in domestic cricket and IPL. He’s a pace-bowling all-rounder with a good temperament, and his inclusion could give India an extra edge in seamer-friendly conditions.

ALSO READ: ENG vs IND: Monty Panesar backs Kuldeep Yadav’s selection for second Test

Tactical Changes That Could Give India the Balance and Firepower They Need

In the pace department, Prasidh Krishna has raw pace but has struggled with control. Arshdeep Singh, with his left-arm variation and ability to swing the ball both ways, offers a more reliable option. His white-ball experience under pressure and his calmness in tense moments make him a strong pick for red-ball cricket too.

These changes aren’t just about fixing what’s broken they’re about refining a winning combination. With these three swaps, India could field a team that’s better suited for the conditions, more balanced across departments, and ready to finish games strong. The talent is there now it’s about making the right calls at the right time.

After India’s dominant opening day at Headingley, the BCCI offered fans a special behind-the-scenes moment with a candid conversation between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel. The centurion was visibly relaxed as Jurel warmly congratulated him on yet another hundred on foreign soil. Pointing out Jaiswal's consistency, Jurel said, “You played your first Test in the West Indies—got a hundred. First Test in Australia—hundred. Now, the first Test in England—hundred, where batting is the hardest. What’s your mindset?”

In true humble fashion, Jaiswal stated that he's driven by one simple, yet very strong desire: to serve the team and make his country proud. “Whenever I come here, I just want to give my best for my team and my country. I really enjoy practicing alone and preparing myself. I try to make sure every ball I face in practice helps me when I’m in tough situations. You know this too, that there are so many moments when we’re under pressure," he said. Sharing a recent example, Jaiswal recalled an intra-squad match where he faced a tough spell from Harshit Rana and Bumrah, saying, “I wasn’t scoring runs easily, but I kept playing. That gave me a lot of confidence and belief that I can survive and get through tough phases.”

Jurel then took the conversation deeper by reminiscing about their India A days. “You told me you just have to score runs in England no matter what. Even when the ball was moving a lot, you wanted the same challenge in the nets. I think that stubbornness is what makes you different. I’ve seen it since we were kids,” he said with admiration. Curious about Jaiswal off the field, Jurel asked him to share more. Laughing, Jaiswal tried to dodge it with a “You tell them!” but eventually opened up, “I don’t do much. When I need to be serious, I stay serious. I focus on my preparation and try to keep my mind calm. That really helps me.”

Watch the video here

Confidence. Patience. Belief 💯

Centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal speaks to Dhruv Jurel after scoring his 1st Test Hundred in England 🙌

WATCH 🎥 🔽 #TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @ybj_19 | @dhruvjurel21

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 21, 2025

See Also: RJ Mahvash hits back at trolls who claim Yuzvendra Chahal is responsible for her career success.

Jaiswal’s Clarity, Grit, and Love for Pressure Situations

This heartfelt conversation showed fans exactly what sets Jaiswal apart an ingrained work ethic, a desire for self-improvement, and a love for pressure. His solitary practice and his dedication to mental calmness are providing him the mental fortitude and composure to take on every new challenge.

From the Caribbean to Australia to England, Jaiswal's desire to perform remains unwavering. As his century at Headingley demonstrated once again, it is not just ability on the field but mindset that has propelled his journey.

Less than a full 4 days to go before the beginning of the highly anticipated England vs. India (ENG vs. IND) 5-match Test series. As every match of the series is considered immensely important for the team to perform to get the highest possible outcomes, BCCI arranged multiple practice matches for the squad in England.

After two unofficial multi-day matches with England Lions, a closed-door intra-squad match was arranged for preparations. The purpose behind the doors remaining shut for that particular practice match was to keep as many details as possible out of the mass reach. It is believed that through the behind-the-door match, team management will decide who to select for the playing XI and who to exclude from the equation, at least for the first Test match, which is set to be played from June 20 in Leeds, England.

Despite the exertion of keeping the details about the intrasquad match, some pictures from the drill have been surfacing on social media platforms. IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has shared multiple images related to the multi-day practice game on the internet, where we can see Dhruv Jurel wearing white gloves, which normally the wicketkeepers use.

Read More: Gautam Gambhir's team India prefers 'flop' Harshit Rana over Anshul Kamboj's promising stint

Preparation mode: ON 💪💙 Beckenham diaries! pic.twitter.com/o8hzK8bSTA

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) June 16, 2025

In another social media post, shared by Delhi Capitals, we saw Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul probably posting in the slip cordon. Both the images are indicating one direction—Jurel played the role of a keeper in the intrasquad match. He was in good touch against England Lions, and if the management wished to consider the emerging talent in the first XI, there would be enough reasons to support it. 

Dhruv Jurel vs. England Lions:

1st unofficial test, India A vs. England Lions: 94 & 53*

2nd unofficial Test, India A vs. England Lions: 52 & 28

India A- 409/3 (90 Overs)

When an entire nation experienced peak excitement for a Mumbai Indians vs. Gujarat Titans Eliminator match of IPL 2025, Karun Nair was busy doing what he can do best—playing a three-digit innings against England Lions for India A team at The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury.

India is set to make a visit to England for a 5-match Test series after the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League season under Subhman Gill's leadership. Before that, it is the time for some preparations. 

Dominance by England Lions at the beginning of Day 1

India A Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran walked back to the hut after a leg before the wicket cheaply only for an individual 8 runs. His opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, scored a promising 24 and departed when India A struggled with 51 after losing the opening pair. Eddie Jack and Josh Hull positioned England Lion in the driving seat before Karun Nair and Sarfaraz Khan stitched a 181-run partnership, facing 235 balls. 

Read More: Former Indian Cricketer Passes Away After Sudden Cardiac Arrest

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opted to drop Khan from the main squad of team India for the upcoming Test series. The batter, who recently lost weight to gain more fitness and scored tons of runs in the domestic circuit, went out for India A to make a 92-run innings, missing a century only by 8 runs.

But Nair, so far, showed no signs of taking a halt. The middle-order batter, who has a triple Test century in his bag, remained unbeaten for 186 after day 1 of the unofficial Test. The momentum gained by England Lions at the start of the match gradually lost their grip when Sarfaraz and Nair rotated strikes without any major bump.

At the end of the day, India A at the commanding position

After the departure of Sarfaraz, Karun Nair paired up with Dhruv Jurel for another long-lasting partnership, which will continue on Day 2. After the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, BCCI selectors have to fill up the void left by the two icons. India has multiple options as openers, but very few contenders for the number 3 spot, the position mostly remembered for Kohli.

Square for the unofficial Test: 

India A (Playing XI): Abhimanyu Easwaran(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Harsh Dubey, Anshul Kamboj, Harshit Rana, Mukesh Kumar.

England Lions (Playing XI): Tom Haines, Ben McKinney, Emilio Gay, Max Holden, James Rew(w/c), Dan Mousley, Rehan Ahmed, Zaman Akhter, Eddie Jack, Josh Hull, and Ajeet Dale.

After making a comeback to Mumbai Indians last season from Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya received lots of criticism and hatred from a part of the fans. A few cricket fans absolutely went crazy on social media to troll the star India all-rounder.

Like cheers, hatred is also a part of the game, and cricketers know how to handle those situations. When the match is about Team India, then there is barely anyone to replace Hardik in the playing eleven; fans know this very well.

Recently, in a podcast, another star Team India player, Dhruv Jurel, shared his thoughts and experience about Hardik Pandya. He disclosed how he saw Hardik as his teammate or as another person in the dressing room.

Read More: WATCH: Royal Challengers Bengaluru eye catching initiative for fans ahead of IPL 2025

This is what Jurel said about Hardik

In the interaction session, Jurel said, "Now, Hardik (Pandya) bhai, uni vibe alaga hai, literally. Matlab, wo alag hay. Agar wo room mein ho na, to us room ki vibe badal jati hay. Unki energy puri room ko feel karata hay ki haa, Hardik Pandya idhar hay. (Now, Hardik, bro, his vibe is different, literally. I mean, he is different. I mean, if Hardik Pandya is in a room, the room's vibe is different. The way he talks, his energy, makes the whole room feel that yes, Hardik Pandya is here)". 

Jurel is considered one of the brightest prospects in Indian cricket. His first couple of Test matches were more than expected. He made his Test debut in Rajkot against England and scored 46. In the next match at Ranchi, he missed his first Test century by only 10 runs. Unlike his Test stats, Jurel's performance in T20Is is far below the bar.

Watch of a part of the podcast here

Dhruv jurel talking about clutch god hardik pandya.🥶pic.twitter.com/Mkr0WSGbId

— hardikian (@chayhg47078) May 27, 2025