The ball started to grip on the Day 2 pitch at Galle. No surprise in that, for the surface was under wraps for long enough to make it a bit damp. More than four hours of play was lost on the second day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka due to rain. When play resumed, the tourists were looking to up the ante.
Sri Lanka’s bowling was much better compared to what was on offer on Day 1. Prabath Jayasuriya found his length and was turning the ball. Keshara Nuwantha, the debutant off-spinner, was even more impressive. The youngster was getting a nice drift on the first day as well. But he was bowling flatter. Today, he gave the ball a lot more air and asked tricky questions. Rishabh Pant, trying to take the attack to the spinner, was outfoxed.
In pursuit of quick runs, India slipped to 377/6 and, given the team’s porous lower order, Sri Lanka had a chance to come back into the game. In that context, Dhruv Jurel’s half-century (51 off 68 balls) and his 55-run seventh-wicket partnership with Manav Suthar were massively important for the visitors.
Jurel came into the game with his position a little shaky. The way he got out to Simon Harmer in Guwahati last winter — hard hands and stabbing at the ball — didn’t enhance his reputation as a batter. He didn’t score too many (1 and 17) in the tour game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI either.
With Sarfaraz Khan being called in as the injured Sai Sudharsan’s replacement, Jurel probably didn’t have much room for error. India ended Day 2 on 460/9, with Jurel’s knock taking them to safety.
At the post-day press conference, he was asked about pressure and whether he was feeling it coming into this Test. “Not at all,” said the 25-year-old, whose father, Nem Singh, is a Kargil war veteran. “Because, to be honest, I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to represent my India. And whenever I go in, I think this is an opportunity to do something for India. So there is, honestly, no pressure. That’s the only privilege that I play for India.”
He captained India A against Sri Lanka A in the unofficial Tests here in June-July. The familiarity with the conditions helped. So, when the pitch started to assist the spinners a bit on the second day, Jurel was ready for it. He also credited the captain, Shubman Gill, and the head coach, Gautam Gambhir.
“Whenever I speak to captain or head coach, they always tell me what to do, what is the situation,” said Jurel. “So, (I) play accordingly. There is no personal milestone that I look for before batting. I just go there and (try to do) what the team needs. I try to contribute for the team.”
The wicketkeeper-batter has ensured that the team management won’t have to worry about the No. 6 spot in the second Test.
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