Each year the Indian Premier League (IPL) gives a platform to so many young talents. The T20 tournament is a platform for some of these players to announce themselves at the world stage. Among many exciting talents on display at this year's IPL is the Rajasthan Royals star Dhruv Jurel.
The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter, much like Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni, revealed the conversation he had with his idol after the CSK vs IPL 2023 match on Wednesday (April 12). He even reflected on his journey so far in a recent interview.
"As a child, I used to play gully cricket with my friends; I never even dreamt that I’d pursue it professionally one day! Papa was a retired Army veteran, and it was always my dream to follow in his footsteps. He, too, wanted me to get a stable government job. Then, during a summer camp when I was 12, I started playing cricket seriously and was hooked," he was quoted in a post by Humans of Bombay.
In the same interview he went on to share various anecdotes of how his parents made sacrifices for him and at one stage his mother had to sell her gold chain for his cricket kit. He then shared how he kept waiting for his chance and did well in the U-19 circuit before getting a place in the RR camp.
He then shared what India's World Cup-winning captain told him after RR's match against the Men in Yellow at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.
"Nothing can top this latest match. Not only did I share a field with Mahi Bhai, but I also got to speak to him! When I asked him how he always stays so calm, he told me, ‘As a finisher, you’ll only get 1 or 2 overs to make your mark. So, just believe in yourself and start hitting.’ Now, that’s exactly what I plan to do, so I can get where he is one day… After all, nothing is ever impossible," he added in the same interview.
Jurel is currently part of the Starting XI of the RR side in their ongoing match (April 16, Sunday) against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.