Dhruv Jurel breaks silence on fight with Rishabh Pant for India ODI spot

Young Indian wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel has put his name in contention ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand after producing a breathtaking knock at exactly the right time.

Just days before the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee meets in the first week of January 2026 to finalize the ODI squad for the New Zealand series, the 23-year-old played a career-defining innings for Uttar Pradesh against Baroda in Rajkot.

Also Read: Dhruv Jurel warns Ajit Agarkar with VHT exploits as Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Kishan circle Rishabh Pant’s ODI spot

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Dhruv Jurel smashed his maiden century list and took it to another level, finishing unbeaten on 160 off just 101 balls. The innings immediately grabbed attention and added fresh pressure on the selectors as they prepare to finalize the squad.

Dhruv Jurel on Rishabh Pant ODI Fight: ‘I focus on performance’

India should stick to KL Rahul as their first-choice keeper-batsman, but the biggest question is around the backup option. Until now, this discussion has mainly revolved around Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan, even though Dhruv Jurel has been a part of India’s ODI squads this year.

However, Jurel’s sensational form forced everyone to take notice, and he finally broke his silence on the ‘fight’ with Rishabh Pant. Jurel was quoted as saying to the Times of India, “Whatever the result and selection, no one can take away my hard work. That’s why I work hard. It has brought me this far and will take me further.”

Dhruv Jurel’s take: “It’s about the controllables”

Amid growing buzz, the 23-year-old Uttar Pradesh batter remained remarkably calm. Jurel’s approach has been focused on preparation and long at-bats rather than chasing pick results that are out of his hands.

Jurel added: “I don’t set too many goals. I focus on the process. Even before the Vijay Hazare Trophy, when I had time, I had it; I would bat for 4-5 hours and create scenarios in my mind of what I could do.”

Also Read: Gautam Gambhir ends Rishabh Pant’s ODI career; Ishan Kishan sealed as permanent replacement

The selection puzzle: Pant’s return against the red-hot form of Ishan and Jurel

Rishabh Pant, who returned to the ODI setup after a long injury break, played only one match during the tour of Sri Lanka in July 2024. He was included in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy squad and in the recent ODI series against South Africa at home, but he did not get a chance to play.

On the other hand, Kishan has been in sublime form with the bat. His strong performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earned him a late call-up to the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The Jharkhand star continued his form with a century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, sparking talks of his return to the ODI side.

Even Jurel now has a big hundred against Baroda in the tournament. The wicketkeeper has already scored 307 runs in just three matches at an incredible average of 153.50 in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has already smashed two half-centuries and a century, setting him up firmly to retain his ODI setup.