Rajasthan Royals have built a reputation for sticking to their core style of play and maintaining consistent starting XIs. Under the leadership of Sanju Samson, the franchise has become a steady presence in the IPL, frequently reaching the playoffs, though they haven’t clinched the title in recent seasons. As the 2025 season approaches, Samson has revealed that he will share the wicketkeeping duties with Dhruv Jurel.
In a conversation with AB de Villiers, Samson mentioned that he had discussed this decision with the team management, head coach Rahul Dravid, and Jurel himself. The Royals captain explained that since Jurel is considered a wicketkeeping option for India’s Test side, it’s important for him to take up the gloves in the IPL as well.
Samson said, “I have not said this on air. As I said before, we feel for the players. I think we feel Dhruv Jurel, where he is at his career, he is a Test wicketkeeper. He also needs to wear the gloves in the IPL at some point,” Sanju Samson said while speaking to AB de Villiers on the latter’s YouTube channel.
He added, “That was discussed; we will be sharing gloves; we both will be sharing gloves. I have not captained much as a fielder, but I told him honestly ‘Dhruv, I totally understand from where you come from and what I think about you as a leader, you should keep in some games.’ We will see how to play around with that. Nothing should affect the team; the team comes first,”
Dhruv Jurel’s recent performance
Dhruv Jurel, he is currently a part of India’s Test squad for the ongoing five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Jurel made a smashing debut for India earlier this year as he played a game-changing innings against England in Ranchi. In the four Tests he has played so far, the 23-year-old has scored 202 runs.
