Dhruv Jurel hit 115* as India declared its first innings on 503/9.
India had resumed on day two on 300/5, and though Saransh Jain got out early, Rishabh Pant resumed his innings after retiring hurt on day one. Pant made 63 runs with 6 fours and 2 sixes before he was dismissed but, with Dhruv Jurel for company, took India’s score past the 400-run mark.
However, Dhruv Jurel continued and rallied the tail with him. He reached his 50 in 97 balls and heralded the tailenders to complete his second Test century. Dhruv Jurel took his time, as he had waited on 99 runs for a long time, as he batted with Mohammed Siraj and spent some time on 95 as proceedings were halted by rain.
Once the play resumed, Jurel wasted no time and even took a risk to reach his century. He hit a straight shot over the bowler’s head, and though the ball was travelling to the mid-off fielder, Jurel took off and made a dive at the bowler’s end. The ball missed the stumps by inches, and Jurel completed his second Test tonne.
He celebrated with a hug to Mohammed Siraj and then did his usual celebrations and even flexed his biceps to show a new tattoo that read "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan”. This slogan was given by former Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri during his tenure. Notably, Jurel’s father is a former army person and fought in the 1999 Kargil War.
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Shubman Gill declared India's innings at 503/9 with Jurel unbeaten on 115 with 9 fours and 2 sixes and Prasidh Krishna on 4*.
After Hardik Pandya (108 in Pallekele in 2017), Jurel is the second batter for India to score a Test century from No. 7 or lower in Sri Lanka. Nitish Kumar Reddy's 114 at the MCG in December 2024 was India's last Test century at No. 7 or lower.