During the second day of the ongoing second Test match between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo, Dhruv Jurel played a brilliant century that etched his name into the record books. This marks the second Test century of his career. Coming in to bat at number seven, Jurel played an unbeaten knock of 117 runs from 177 balls, which included nine fours and two sixes. With this remarkable hundred, Jurel shattered a massive record held by Hardik Pandya that had remained unbroken for the past nine years.
Hardik Pandya's Record Broken
Hardik Pandya had scored 108 runs in Pallekele back in 2017. He was the sole Indian batter to score a century while batting at number seven or lower in Sri Lanka. Jurel has now joined him in this elite list. However, his unbeaten 117-run knock makes him the highest-scoring Indian batter at number seven or lower in Sri Lanka. Jurel is only the second Indian batsman to score a century in Sri Lanka while batting at number seven or below.
A Special Place Among Foreign Batters
Jurel's name has also entered the list of foreign batters who have played the highest innings in Sri Lanka while batting at number seven or lower. He secured the fourth spot in this ranking, pushing Ireland's Curtis Campher out of the top five. New Zealand's Richard Hadlee tops the list with an unbeaten 151 runs, followed by his compatriot Daniel Vettori in second place with 140 runs. Pakistan's Salman Agha holds the third position, having scored an unbeaten 132 runs in 2023. Notably, Jurel's magnificent innings came at the same Sinhalese Sports Club ground where Hadlee, Vettori, and Agha previously played their stellar knocks.
Top Innings at Number Seven Abroad Since 2000
Jurel is now part of the top-five list for the highest scores by an Indian batter at number seven or lower on foreign soil since the year 2000. Rishabh Pant leads this category with his unbeaten 159-run knock in a Sydney Test. Ajinkya Rahane scored 118 runs against New Zealand in 2014. Rishabh Pant also occupies the third spot for his 114-run innings against England at The Oval in 2018. Jurel takes the fourth position. Other notable names in this group include Wriddhiman Saha (104 against West Indies, Gros Islet, 2016) and Ravindra Jadeja (104 against England, Birmingham, 2022).
First Lower-Order Century for India Since 2024
Jurel's century is significant for another reason as well. The last time an Indian batter scored a century from number seven or lower in Test cricket was when Nitish Kumar Reddy achieved the feat. Reddy had scored 114 runs against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 2024. Following that, Jurel has now replicated the feat. His innings not only propelled India's total past the 500-run mark but also demonstrated his capability to build substantial and crucial partnerships alongside the lower-order batsmen.
