Dhruv Jurel also scored a century in the second Test being played between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo. Jurel, who landed at number seven, completed his century by taking a risky single in the last session of the second day of the match (24 August). This was the second century of his Test career, which he celebrated in a special way. Jurel showed off the 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' tattoo inked on his biceps.
Apart from scoring a century, Jurel also achieved a big achievement. He has become the second Indian batsman to score a Test century at No. 7 or below in Sri Lanka. Earlier, Hardik Pandya had achieved this feat. Hardik had played an inning of 108 runs in 96 balls at number eight in the Pallekele Test in 2017.
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Jurel waited a long time for his century
India's eighth wicket had fallen at the score of 458. At this time Jurel was playing after scoring 79 runs. Now only Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were left to bat, due to which it seemed that Jurel would not be able to complete his century. However, Siraj supported him well. When Jurel was on 95 runs, it rained, due to which the game was stopped for a long time.
When play resumed after the weather cleared, Jurel soon reached 99 but then had a long wait. Jurel played 12 dot balls continuously. Meanwhile Siraj survived a big appeal. Jurel did not consider it right to waste any more time and completed his century in the very next over with a quick single. If there had been a direct hit, he might have had to go out.
After scoring a century, Jurel hit two sixes and took India's score close to 500. Siraj was out and the last pair were on the field. As soon as Prasidh Krishna hit a four and took India beyond 500, captain Shubman Gill declared the innings. Jurel returned unbeaten after scoring 115 runs in 177 balls. He hit 9 fours and 2 sixes in his innings.
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Padikkal scored a century on the first day
With the help of Devdutt Padikkal's (117) second consecutive Test century, India had scored 300 runs at the loss of 5 wickets on the first day. Jurel was unbeaten on 7 runs, while Saransh Jain was unbeaten on 4 runs. Saransh, who was making his Test debut, could add only 2 runs in his innings on the second day. After his dismissal, Rishabh Pant came to the crease.
Pant retired from the field on the first day due to injury. He extended his innings by 3 runs and added 60 runs. He and Jurel made a partnership of 112 runs for the seventh wicket. After the dismissal of Pant (63), Jurel got good support from the tail batsmen, due to which he completed his century.