On Monday, Dhruv Jurel joined the current debate about India's backup wicketkeeper for the forthcoming three-match ODI series at home against New Zealand.  

The 23-year-old scored his first List A century, an unbeaten 160 off 101 balls against Baroda in Rajkot, two days before the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee meets to decide the India squad.

While KL Rahul is projected to remain the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs, the backup job has mostly been discussed in terms of Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan, despite Jurel having played in India's past two ODI series this year.

Rishabh Pant has played only one ODI since his return to cricket in 2024 and was part of India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy and South Africa ODIs, but remained on the bench. Kishan, meanwhile, was recalled to India’s T20 World Cup 2026 and New Zealand T20I series squad after two years in the wilderness.

Jurel, on the other hand, has already firmly entered the conversation with his dominant performance against Baroda on December 29. He has 307 runs in three Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, averaging 153.50, including two half-centuries and a century, and is presently ranked second in the tournament's run-scorers list.

Despite the fact that the knock has sparked speculation about his ODI call-up, Jurel has indicated that he is still focused on the process rather than selection, emphasizing that no outcome can undo his hard work. 

"I don’t set too many goals for myself. I focus on the process. Even before the Vijay Hazare Trophy, when I got some time, I got some time. I was batting for 4-5 hours and creating scenarios in my mind about what I can do. Whatever the result and selection may be, no one can take my hard work away from me. That’s why I work hard. It has brought me this far and will take me further,” Jurel told The Times of India.

Jurel had earned his maiden ODI call-up for the tour of Australia earlier in October and remains in contention despite being replaced by Rishabh Pant for the South Africa series.