As the cricketing world awaits IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals have gone ahead to make an important announcement about wicketkeepers. Captain Sanju Samson confirmed that young talent Dhruv Jurel is going to be RR’s wicketkeeper in the next season, which is a big development not only for him but for the team as well and will further strengthen the outfit.
Rajasthan Royal’s Role in Dhruv Jurel’s Growth
Dhruv Jurel, a wicket-keeper batsman, age 23 years, was one of the bright boys for Rajasthan Royals for the past two seasons. Good skills as a wicketkeeper and attacking batting in the lower order drew much attention from viewers and coaches alike. The 27 IPL matches witnessed so far have seen Dhruv Jurel score a total of 347 runs at a high strike rate of 151.53 for being a potential match-winner.
With the mega auction for IPL 2025 already completed, Rajasthan Royals have retained Jurel for a whopping Rs 14 crore, underlining their faith in the young cricketer. His all-round skills make him a valuable asset to the team, and his rise in international cricket has only added to the excitement surrounding his IPL journey.
Sanju Samson’s Support for Dhruv Jurel’s Wicketkeeping Role
Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson made a big statement regarding the wicketkeeping duties for the upcoming season. Although Samson has been the primary wicketkeeper for RR in the past, he announced that he would be willing to step aside at times to allow Jurel to take on the gloves. Samson recognized the need to give Jurel more opportunities to play as a wicketkeeper not only for the IPL but also for his growth as a player with an eye on his international career.
Speaking to former cricketer AB de Villiers on his YouTube channel, Samson said, “I have not said this on air before, but I believe Dhruv Jurel is a Test wicketkeeper.”. He has to wear gloves in the IPL sometimes too. We discussed it, and we will share the gloves throughout the season. I told him, ‘Dhruv, I understand completely where you have come from, and I think you should keep wickets in some matches.’ We will work on this together while ensuring that nothing disrupts the balance of the team. The team always comes first.”
Samson, who has shown a willingness to share wicketkeeping responsibilities, showcases his leadership qualities and readiness to groom the young cricketers. It would also help Jurel gain more experience as a keeper of the ball, especially when he wishes to cement his position in the Indian Test team, where skills behind the stumps might be very crucial.
Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2025 Squad and Performance Outlook
Rajasthan Royals have assembled an exciting and well-balanced squad for IPL 2025, with some notable inclusions in the recent mega auction. The likes of Jofra Archer, Nitish Rana, and Maheesh Theekshana have been added to strengthen the team. With a blend of experienced internationals and young stars like Jurel, the Royals will look to go as deep as possible in the tournament and fight for the title.
However, the side’s performance for IPL 2024 came out to be mixed. When Rajasthan Royals finished third with 17 points in the points table, they qualified for the playoffs, their journey ended, losing against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2. Nonetheless, the strength and talent of the players will ensure that they bring more victories in IPL 2025.
Dhruv Jurel’s Potential and Future in Indian Cricket
The decision to give Jurel more opportunities to keep wickets in the IPL is in line with his future aspirations. As a wicketkeeper-batsman, he has impressed selectors with his performances in domestic cricket and international T20s, and playing more regularly as a keeper in the IPL may increase his chances of making it to India’s Test squad in the future.
The well-rounded player who desires improvement will definitely be someone everyone is keeping an eye out to see how he plays throughout the coming seasons. Jurel can emerge and soon become a permanent man in the long-format team set up for India if he continually works on his wicketkeeper’s game and helps his side with contributions that go well with his bat.
As Rajasthan Royals prepare to take on the challenge of IPL 2025, taking Dhruv Jurel under his wing with a more significant role as wicketkeeper is a development that excited both the player and the franchise. The support of Captain Sanju Samson along with the coaching staff could be the guiding force that will help him grow to a greater extent and become a vital part of his team’s success. The Royals will look to return more powerfully this year and with Jurel’s growing profile, an exciting and successful season ahead of the team.
The upcoming season of IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals promises to be the most exciting one as they go ahead with building a dynamic side and Dhruv Jurel’s role has emerged as one of the big stories to watch for in the tournament.
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