Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan praised Dhruv Jurel of the Rajasthan Royals for his impressive showing against the Gujarat Titans during the IPL 2026 match on April 4 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Rajasthan Royals set a target of 210/6, with Jurel scoring 75 runs off 42 balls.
Pathan noted Jurel’s ability to accelerate his innings, emphasizing his comfort against fast bowling. He also acknowledged Jurel’s improved performance against spin bowlers.
“Dhruv Jurel played really well. He made 25 runs off his first 20 balls, then significantly increased his strike rate. By the time he reached around 75 runs, his strike rate was impressive, about 175,” Pathan shared on his YouTube channel.
“He handled spin effectively, even stepping out to take on Rashid Khan. His approach to fast bowlers on the leg side marks him as a standout player. He isn’t intimidated by pace, and for someone batting at number three, he is actually becoming better against it. Rajasthan is growing into a very strong team,” he added.
Pathan also commended Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who scored 31 runs off 18 balls, for his composure against Kagiso Rabada. He highlighted Suryavanshi’s mix of control and aggression, noting he knows when to respect a bowler.
“Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 31 off 18 balls and hit some impressive boundaries, especially his shot over point. What stood out was how he managed Rabada in the second over, giving away only seven runs. I thought he might take risks against Rabada’s well-planned deliveries, but he played carefully. This shows he can adapt his game—if he needs to defend, he can, and when it’s time to attack, he can do that too,” said Pathan.