Know All About Dhruv Jurel: Who's Mother Pawned Jewellery Once To Buy Kit Bag - In Pics

In 2014, during his father's mourning for the loss of his own father, 14-year-old Dhruv Jurel left his Agra home unaccompanied to seek admission at a cricket academy in Noida.

Upon reaching the academy owned by Noida's renowned cricket coach, Phool Chand, the absence of a guardian accompanying Dhruv surprised those present.

That afternoon remained vividly etched in Phool Chand's memory as he reveled in the pride of mentoring India's latest Test cricketer, precisely numbered as 312. The 23-year-old showcased his talent admirably, crafting a gritty innings of 46 runs from 104 balls against England in the ongoing third Test in Rajkot.

His coach first wanted to call his family when he found Dhruv travelled alone to Noida from Agra. Jurel's father, a retired Havildar who served in the Kargil war of 1999 before opting for voluntary retirement from the military in 2008 later informed that he was informed about his son's travel to Noida.

Jurel's journey to the senior team has been a steady progression. He started by playing age-group cricket for Uttar Pradesh before assuming the role of vice-captain for the India Under-19 team, which secured the runner-up position in the 2020 World Cup held in South Africa.

For Dhruv, whose mother had to pawn her gold jewellery to purchase his first cricket kit, Phool Chand made sure that no talented child with limited resources had to worry about equipment at his academy.