Young India wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel recently opened up about an intense moment during his debut Test series against England earlier this year. The 22-year-old, who impressed in his maiden series, reflected on an incident involving England's star batter Joe Root during the second Test in Ranchi.

Jurel, who had scored a promising 46 on his debut in Rajkot, found himself walking into a tricky situation in Ranchi. India, reeling at 161/5 in reply to England’s 353, needed someone to step up. Jurel, alongside Sarfaraz Khan, steadied the ship with an unbeaten 30* at stumps, taking the hosts to 219/7.

However, Jurel confessed that he couldn’t sleep that night, overwhelmed by the pressure and planning his approach for the next day. “I was not out on 30, and I kept thinking whether to push for my half-century with the old ball or wait for the new one,” Jurel said in an interview with Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel. Eventually, Jurel added six more runs, taking his tally to 36 before England took the new ball, and James Anderson returned to the attack.

But it wasn’t just the bowlers that Jurel had to contend with. Joe Root, known for his calm demeanor, surprisingly sledged Jurel during the game. The two had shared a camaraderie while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, but this was different. “Root was sledging aggressively. With his British accent, I couldn’t understand half of what he said. Even Jonny Bairstow joined in,” Jurel shared. “I asked Root, ‘Why are you sledging me?’ and he simply replied, ‘We are all playing for our country now.’”

Despite the pressure and sledging, Jurel stood tall, playing a vital knock of 90 off 149 balls, laced with six fours and two sixes. His innings helped India cross the 300-mark. In the second innings, Jurel’s unbeaten 39, paired with Sarfaraz Khan’s crucial 62-run partnership, guided India to a five-wicket win, chasing down 192.

For his heroics, Jurel was named the Player of the Match, marking a memorable start to his international career. Reflecting on his experiences, Jurel emphasized how the sledging, especially from a teammate-turned-opponent like Root, fueled his determination to perform.