Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has refrained from comparing Dhruv Jurel to MS Dhoni after the young Indian wicketkeeper's heroics during the Ranchi Test.
Jurel would deliver a sublime performance in the fourth Test in the hometown of Dhoni to help India clinch the series against England. Many would quickly point out the similarities between Jurel and Dhoni after the match, with Sunil Gavaskar being the first to say that the youngster seemed like the second coming of the former India skipper.
While Ganguly could see the similarities between the two, he said to RevSportz that Dhoni is in a different league altogether. The former BCCI President said that it took Dhoni a long time to reach the level and said that Jurel should be allowed to play.
"Dhruv Jurel... what a Test match he had under pressure on a difficult wicket. There is huge talent and if you miss you and you go back down in the ladder, it will be very hard to come back. MS Dhoni is in a different league. Jurel has talent; there's no doubt about it. But it took MS Dhoni 20 years to be MS Dhoni. Rather 15 years for Dhoni to be Dhoni. So let him [Jurel] play. Jurel's ability to play spin, pace and most importantly to perform under pressure. That's what you look for in a youngster," said Ganguly.
After coming into the side during the Rajkot Test, Jurel quickly made a strong impression with the bat and behind the stumps. The UP wicketkeeper would score 46 in his maiden innings and performed a rescue act for India in Ranchi.
With his team on the back foot, Jurel scored a crucial 90 in the first innings and remained unbeaten on 39 as India won the match by 5 wickets to seal the series 3-1.
Jurel would then talk about the Dhoni comparisons from Gavaskar and was quick to play it down.
"Obviously it's a good feeling to hear a legend like Sunil Gavaskar talk about me. The mood was great, there were no specific instructions... just to go out and play. Watch the ball and play. Just that the long I play the better it is."
