Indian wicketkeeper batter Dhruv Jurel scored his maiden century during the second day of the first Test against West Indies in Ahmedabad on Friday. The wicketkeeper reached the milestone with a boundary off West Indies skipper Roston Chase, in the 190th delivery of his innings.

He walked in after Shubman Gill’s dismissal. Jurel took a slow and cautious approach; he got his first boundary after 38 balls. However, his partnership with Ravindra Jadeja elevated India’s innings in this match. He marked the milestone with a heartfelt gesture to his father, Nem Chand, a war veteran. His celebration, resembling a guard of honour, reflected both pride and gratitude, turning the achievement into an emotional tribute that went beyond the cricket field.

Dhruv Jurel came in the absence of vice captain Rishabh Pant, who is out due to a foot injury. This knock of 100 made him not just a stand-in wicketkeeper, but also a reliable middle-order batsman. This also makes him the 12th wicketkeeper to score a Test century, joining the distinguished list of Vijay Manjrekar, Farookh Engineer, Ajay Ratra, and Wriddhiman Saha. His knock further strengthens the legacy of Indian keepers, adding to the string of influential performances.

Although he walked back with 125 runs off 210 balls, he left with his first Test century, an innings to remember.