Dhruv Jurel’s innings in the first innings of the fourth Test will be remembered as one of the best innings by any Indian wicketkeeper-batter in the longest format of the game. Despite losing five wickets cheaply, Jurel’s contribution played a significant role in minimizing India’s deficit to below 100 runs going into the second innings. His performance received widespread praise on social media, with former India opener Virender Sehwag also acknowledging his efforts.
Famous for his aggressive batting style, the legendary India opener remains just as outspoken on social media as he was on the cricket pitch. Following Jurel’s resilient innings, he commended the young player while also highlighting the prevalent trend on the internet where certain players receive disproportionate media attention compared to others.
“No media hype, no drama, just some outstanding skills and quietly showed great temperament in a very difficult situation. Very Well-done Dhruv Jurel. Best wishes.,” Sehwag wrote on Twitter.
The tweet received backlash from some Indian fans who believed that Sehwag’s praise for Jurel came at the expense of recognizing the achievements of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Akash Deep, three other young players in the team who hail from modest backgrounds and have overcome significant challenges in their upbringing.
An X user slammed Sehwag for his take on social media “You probably are attacking Sarfaraz Khan’s hype he got in media after debut. You are a cheap guy who could not see his struggle in domestic for the last three years. He literally fought against selectors for his place. Today, respect for MS Dhoni grows by folds.”
Another user wrote: “You can do better. What a pathetic tweet. The least you can do is act like an ex-professional cricketer, and not like a troll, Sir.”
Not to degrade or demean anyone: Virender Sehwag
Sehwag clarified his post, emphasizing his advocacy for fair recognition based on performance. The legendary opener also praised the outstanding contributions of players like Akash Deep, Yashasvi, Sarfaraz, and Jurel in both bowling and batting. Sehwag stressed the need for equal acknowledgment of all players, regardless of background, urging against disproportionate hype. He highlighted their achievements and called for fair treatment in media coverage to ensure equitable representation of all players.
“Not to degrade or demean anyone, but hype should be on performance and be equal. Some guys have bowled brilliantly, some have batted exceptionally but haven’t got the hype they deserve. Akash Deep was outstanding here, Yashasvi has been brilliant through the series and so was Sarfaraz at Rajkot and Dhruv Jurel in all his opportunities. Hype sabko karo,” Sehwag added another tweet.
Not to degrade or demean anyone, but hype should be on performance and be equal. Some guys have bowled brilliantly, some have batted exceptionally but haven’t got the hype they deserve.
Akash Deep was outstanding here, Yashasvi has been brilliant through the series and so was… https://t.co/RHGtneSS96— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 25, 2024
