From Kargil War Veteran to Dad of a Cricket Star: Dhruv Jurel's Rise to Fame

Nem Singh Jurel has had enough sudden turns and turns in life to be affected by both success and disappointment. However, the retired Havaldar inside of him is still adjusting to the sudden fame that son Dhruv has bestowed upon his family.

Since Dhruv made his Test debut in Rajkot two weeks ago, things have changed a little bit in his life. His phone is often ringing, he is constantly getting offers for TV shows, and his son's posts on social media get a lot of attention very quickly.

Nem Singh, a veteran of the Kargil conflict, is savoring the attention and praise after being called "Dhruv Jurel's father" so frequently.

However, celebrity is beginning to catch up with him. When he paid a visit to their Noida residence to monitor the flow of friends and guests amid the intermission between the Ranchi and Dharamsala Tests, he appeared rather reticent to divulge Dhruv's location.

Though he was not present for Dhruv's debut, he hopes to play in the last Test.

"I was unable to book airline tickets at such short notice because Dhruv's message arrived a little later than expected. However, my goal is to travel to Dharamsala so that I can spend at least a few days on the ground there. But I'm not sure when I'll leave... Nem Singh said to The Telegraph on Tuesday, "It might be Thursday."

Sunil Gavaskar has likened Dhruv's "presence of mind" to that of former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, indicating that the 23-year-old has already begun to inspire aspirations. He already gave me the "Dhoni feels" for the way he caught a stray ball, ran out Ben Duckett in Ranchi, and correctly evaluated DRS calls.

Then his tenacious batting began; after a strong 46 in Rajkot, he amassed 90 and 39 not out in the fourth Test, which won the match. He embodied every quality that makes a good Test cricket player: discipline, application, temperament, and accurate shot choice.

The English were also taken aback. Ben Stokes continued his jest about Ben Foakes, England's wicketkeeper-batter, saying he had a "man crush" on Dhruv.

However, Jurel Sr. is aware that staying grounded is crucial. "I've always wanted him to take on a national project. Nothing compares to this sensation," remarked Jurel Sr.

Following his first fifty years of age, Dhruv saluted in his father's honor. He understands what discipline means to me because I'm from the Army. When he was younger, he saw me in my uniform. Nem Singh stated, "He always had it in the back of his mind." "However, it wasn't only for me. It served as an homage to the nation and the Indian Army.

The young player will also be excited about the prospect of participating in the T20 World Cup because KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan are still up in the air. Talk has already surfaced suggesting that, should the former return to form, both Rishabh Pant and Dhruv might be included in the starting lineup.

According to former junior national chief selector Gyanendra Pandey, who oversaw Dhruv's participation in the U-19 World Cup, Dhruv's versatility across all formats sets him apart. "He has always been like this... compact batting, matured and never undone by the circumstances," Pandey stated.

"He'll perform well in the condensed format as well. It's amazing how well he can strike the first ball. Having witnessed his transition from close quarters, I am well acquainted with him."

In Indian cricket, becoming instantly famous and then going unnoticed is nothing new. As his father used to say, Dhruv needs to "keep feet firmly in ground" and maintain a level mind.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.