India’s rising wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel Put up a mind-blowing display of power-hitting in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26He took Uttar Pradesh to a strong score by playing an unbeaten inning of 160 runs in 101 balls against Baroda at Sanosara Cricket Ground ‘A’.
The knock marked Jurel’s maiden List A century and career best score, instantly entering Uttar Pradesh folklore with multiple records falling in a single innings.
Dhruv Jurel saves Uttar Pradesh after early wicket fall
Uttar Pradesh, who came in to bat, was struggling at 92/3 when Jurel came in at No. 3. Openers Abhishek Goswami (51) and Aryan Juyal (26) had provided a steady platform of 77 runs, but the rapid fall of wickets was in danger of derailing the innings.
Jurel first steadied the proceedings with skipper Rinku Singh, who scored a quickfire 63 off 67 balls. Once set up, Jurrell flipped the switch, turning the consolidation into outright dominance.
The most surprising phase of Jurel’s innings came when he reached three figures. He broke the all-time record for the fastest List A half-century by an Uttar Pradesh batsman by scoring 100 to 150 runs in just 19 balls.
His final innings included 15 fours and 8 sixes, produced at a tremendous strike rate of 158.42, taking UP to 369/7 – their third highest List A total.
Once Jurel found his boundary, Baroda’s bowlers had no answer. Fast bowler Rasikh Salam had a very poor performance and conceded 55 runs to Jurel off just 14 balls – the most by a Baroda bowler in a List A innings.
The attack was emblematic of the mismatch between batsman and bowler during Jurrell’s peak, as boundaries flowed to all parts of the ground.
Highest individual List A score for UP
Jurel’s unbeaten 160 broke a long-standing record and became Uttar Pradesh’s highest individual List A score. He walked past:
- Aryan Juyal’s 159 vs Maharashtra (2022)
- Madhav Kaushik’s unbeaten 158 runs vs Mumbai (2021)
The innings also eclipsed Jurel’s recent highest innings – 80 off 61 balls against Hyderabad five days ago and 67 off 57 balls against Chandigarh – highlighting his tendency to move on quickly.
Also read: Smriti Mandhana is the fastest woman player to score 10,000 runs in women’s international cricket.
The debate regarding wicketkeepers has intensified before the New Zealand ODI.
At just 24, Jurel’s innings has cemented his credentials amid the ongoing debate over India’s backup wicketkeeper options, especially with the Rishabh Pant-Ishan Kishan debate dominating the selection discussion ahead of the New Zealand ODI series.
This was Jurel’s third consecutive fifty-plus score in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, taking his tally of runs in the competition to 307. His recent India A double century against South Africa has further strengthened his white-ball performances.
Also read: Rishabh Pant vs Ishan Kishan – Selectors reconsider backup wicketkeeper for New Zealand ODI