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KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Dhruv Jurel scored his second Test century, reaching 115 not out off 171 balls against Sri Lanka in Colombo. - His knock became only the second by an Indian at number seven or lower on Sri Lankan soil. - Fans and pundits praised Jurel's temperament, with Harsha Bhogle and Dodda Ganesh among those lauding the innings. Dhruv Jurel hailed for crucial 115* in Colombo under pressure in 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka Dhruv Jurel showed composure and technical soundness to bring up his second Test century, as he reached the milestone off 171 deliveries on Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Jurel resumed his innings overnight unbeaten on 7, with India positioned at 300 for 5. Things got tricky early when debutant Saransh Jain fell soon after play began, but Jurel found the perfect foil in Rishabh Pant, and the pair combined for a counter-attacking stand that put Sri Lanka's bowlers firmly on the back foot through a commanding first session. Throughout his innings, Jurel defended solidly against the testing lines of Asitha Fernando while handling the turn and guile of Prabath Jayasuriya with assurance. A rain interruption during the afternoon session left him stuck on 95, but he stayed calm once play resumed, eventually scampering through for a single in the 136th over to bring up his hundred. MORE: Fans react as Jaiswal avoids ban, escapes with 25% fine after head clash in IND vs SL Test What record did Jurel create with this innings? Jurel's knock didn't just help India's cause on the scoreboard; it also carved out a place in the history books. He became only the second Indian batter to score a Test century from number seven or lower on Sri Lankan soil, joining Hardik Pandya, who managed 108 at Pallekele back in 2017. His unbeaten 115 also ranks as the fourth-highest score by any visiting batter coming in at number seven or lower in Sri Lanka, an exclusive list dominated by some genuine greats of the game. | Score | Batter | Venue | Year | |---|---|---|---| | 151* | Richard Hadlee (NZ) | Colombo (SSC) | 1987 | | 140 | Daniel Vettori (NZ) | Colombo (SSC) | 2009 | | 132* | Salman Agha (PAK) | Colombo (SSC) | 2023 | | 115* | Dhruv Jurel (IND) | Colombo (SSC) | 2026 | | 111 | Curtis Campher (IRE) | Galle | 2023 | How did fans and pundits react to the innings? Reaction to Jurel's knock poured in quickly across social media. Former India bowler Dodda Ganesh wrote on X: "Wonderfully constructed century by Dhruv Jurel 👏🏻 #SLvIND." Wonderfully constructed century by Dhruv Jurel 👏🏻 #SLvIND — Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) August 24, 2026 @YaariSports added: "Dhruv Jurel’s century celebration had a patriotic touch! 🇮🇳❤️ After completing his hundred, Jurel proudly showed his arm tattoo - 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.' 🔥". Dhruv Jurel’s century celebration had a patriotic touch! 🇮🇳❤️ — Sports Yaari (@YaariSports) August 24, 2026 After completing his hundred, Jurel proudly showed his arm tattoo - “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.” 🔥#DhruvJurel #TeamIndia #Cricket #JaiJawanJaiKisan #SportsYaari pic.twitter.com/YdymjxKrk4 @Ajmalzadran18 said: "Dhruv Jurel is definitely the future of Indian Test cricket! Scoring his 2nd Test century against Sri Lanka under pressure shows his incredible temperament and class. Brilliant innings! 👏". Dhruv Jurel is definitely the future of Indian Test cricket! Scoring his 2nd Test century against Sri Lanka under pressure shows his incredible temperament and class. Brilliant innings! 👏 https://t.co/WfJMYwCIrw — Ajmal Zadran (@Ajmalzadran18) August 24, 2026 Commentator Harsha Bhogle offered perhaps the most detailed praise, breaking down exactly what made the innings stand out. He wrote: "A beautifully constructed innings in which he hardly put a foot wrong (except for the last run ). Looked in control throughout and showed very pleasing temperament. Very well played, Dhruv Jurel." A beautifully constructed innings in which he hardly put a foot wrong (except for the last run ). Looked in control throughout and showed very pleasing temperament. Very well played, Dhruv Jurel. — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 24, 2026 @pipnook wrote: "With poise and elegance, Dhruv Jurel crafts a brilliant century, etching his name into the annals of test cricket." with poise and elegance, Dhruv Jurel crafts a brilliant century, etching his name into the annals of test cricket. pic.twitter.com/CY3NNusPkS — َ (@pipnook) August 24, 2026 MORE: BCCI struggles to secure title sponsors for Indian cricket before new home season Dhruv Jurel's innings matters beyond the numbers What makes Jurel's century significant isn't just the record books; it's the context in which it arrived. Coming in at 300 for 5 after a quick wicket, with the bowling attack still fresh and the pitch offering assistance to both pace and spin, this wasn't a situation that invited easy batting. Building a hundred under those circumstances, especially from a position lower down the order where innings often get cut short by the tail, says a great deal about Jurel's game awareness and mental discipline. The comparison to past visiting greats like Hadlee and Vettori also adds weight to this achievement, since both those players were established stars at the peak of their careers when they set those benchmarks. For a young Indian wicketkeeper-batter still establishing himself in the Test side, joining that kind of company, even at fourth on the list, signals class rather than a one-off lucky knock. If Jurel can build on days like this consistently, India may have finally found the long-term answer to their middle-order stability question that's lingered for a while now. For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.