Not Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Another RR Player Demanded To Be Fast-Tracked In Indian Team

RR player demanded to be picked in Indian team [Source: AP]

Before the start of the IPL 2026, the Rajasthan Royals were not one of the contenders to reach the playoffs, let alone win the title. However, several players have performed brilliantly to drag the side in Qualifier 2, where the team will now face the Gujarat Titans for a place in the finals.

In the bowling department, Jofra Archer has led the charge and has scalped wickets not only in the power play but in death overs as well. Similarly with the bat, the teenage sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken the league by storm, alongside the ever-reliable, Dhruv Jurel.

While the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag have blown hot and cold, Sooryavanshi has become the leading run-getter in the IPL 2026, and Jurel has played his part with several match-winning knocks.

Sooryavanshi and Jurel's contribution in RR's success

There is a fear factor in the opposition camp when they have to face the 15-year-old RR opener, Sooryavanshi. He has blown away the bowlers with his batting and has already amassed 680 runs, with a strike rate of 242, a stat that has never been seen in the IPL.

On the other hand, Jurel has played his part to perfection as the right-handed batter has registered 508 runs in 15 matches, with a strike rate of 155, and 6 fifties under his name. He has complemented Sooryavanshi, and the duo has become RR’s most reliable pair.

Not Sooryavanshi, Jurel's place demanded in Indian team

Courtesy of Sooryavanshi’s domination, experts have demanded his inclusion in the Indian squad across formats. However, Jurel is not left far behind as Kevin Pietersen, the English great, has urged the BCCI to keep a tab on him.

Pietersen hailed Jurel as a “consistent batter/keeper”, and he has asked the Indian board to play him regularly.

"Dhruv Jurel should be looked at very very closely for regular cricket in the Indian team. Very dependable keeper/batter."

Kevin Pietersen🦏

@KP24

Dhruv Jurel should be looked at very very closely for regular cricket in the Indian team. Very dependable keeper/batter

It has to be observed that Jurel still plays in the Test team and has performed well in red-ball cricket, but he might not get a place in white-ball cricket, due to the abundance of talent available.

Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi And Dhruv Jurel Take Up Difficult Challenge To Not Hit Sixes

Dhruv Jurel's international career at a glance

A talented player, and pleasing on the eyes, Jurel was quickly fast-tracked in red-ball cricket, but he was mostly used as a backup to Rishabh Pant. The right-handed batter has received his fair share of opportunities, and in those, he has been decent with the bat.

In 9 Tests, Jurel has accumulated 459 runs, with an average of 35.30, including a solitary fifty, and a century. Apart from Tests, the Indian selectors also tried him in T20Is, where he failed to deliver the goods.

In 4 T20I games, Jurel has only scored 12 runs, with an average of 4, and a strike rate of 52. Eventually, he was dropped from the T20Is, with others given a preference.

Should BCCI look at Pietersen's Jurel demand?

The 25-year-old has been an integral part of the Indian Test setup, and was recently picked in the one-off Test squad vs Afghanistan. He will continue to get his chances in red-ball cricket, but the player, at this moment, doesn’t have a future in the white-ball setup.

A plethora of players are available in ODIs and T20Is, and Jurel might have to wiat a bit longer to try out his luck in the other two formats.

Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Vs Chris Gayle Comparison After 22 IPL Matches