Dhruv Jurel Ton In Colombo Mirrors Rare Hardik Pandya Feat
Jurel digs in as India pile on the runs
Dhruv Jurel ground out his second Test century on Monday to push India towards a huge first-innings total on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
Resuming the morning with the side on 300 for 5, the wicketkeeper-batter batted through rain interruptions and finished unbeaten on 115 off 177 balls before captain Shubman Gill closed the innings at 503 for 9. Jurel needed 171 deliveries for his hundred and marked it in style, launching Asitha Fernando for six to close out the 136th over of the innings.
A milestone few Indians have touched
The knock carried some history with it. According to reports, Jurel is now only the second Indian after Hardik Pandya to score a Test hundred from No. 7 or lower in Sri Lanka. Pandya made 108 at Pallekele back in 2017. The most recent Indian to reach three figures from that deep in any conditions was Nitish Kumar Reddy, whose 114 came against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 2024.
Overseas, the club is smaller still. Jurel is the ninth Indian batter to post an away hundred from No. 7 or below, a list opened by Dattu Phadkar with his 123 at Adelaide in 1948. Kapil Dev and Rishabh Pant are the only men to have done it twice, with Pant’s 114 against England in 2018 and 159 not out against Australia in 2019 among the standout entries.
Pant’s return sets the platform
Rishabh Pant, who had retired hurt on the opening day after taking a blow on his wrist, walked back out early on Monday despite lingering fitness doubts. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had said before play that the left-hander “should be fine” to resume, and Pant backed that up with 63 off 88 balls.
He and Jurel added 112 for the sixth wicket after debutant Saransh Jain fell cheaply in the morning session. Pant was dismissed off the very first ball after lunch, yet Jurel kept finding partners, adding another 54 with Manav Suthar before the all-rounder edged Prabath Jayasuriya through to Niroshan Dickwella.
Rain cut the second session short, sending the teams to an early tea at 475 for 8 with Jurel stranded on 95 not out. His fifty, raised off 97 balls in the opening session, was a second consecutive fifty-plus score after eight Test innings without one before this series began in Galle.
Devdutt Padikkal’s 117 on Sunday was the other centurion of the innings. With more than 500 on the board, India will now look to press home the advantage when Sri Lanka finally get their turn with the bat.
About The Author
