It doesn’t happen very often that a player is an all-format specialist. And that is why the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and even Jasprit Bumrah are rated to so highly. Someone like a Pat Cummins can perform in the Tests, ODIs and T20Is, without much dip in his performances. But then, there are certain players, who might not be as proficient in all the formats.
Dhruv Jurel Retained by RR
When on October 31, the IPL retentions were announced, RR threw in a major surprise by not retaining Jos Buttler. Instead, they went with India youngster Dhruv Jurel. And nothing against the latter, but he just does not have the T20 game that England’s Buttler has. Much to the bewilderment of all fans, RR spent a massive INR 14 Cr on Jurel, who has a less-impressive T20 record.
In his career, he has played 40 matches so far, and scored 445 runs. The average of is 21 and the strike-rate has been over 133. This year, in IPL 2024, he played 15 matches and scored 195 runs only, including two fifties. Yet his average was only 24. Now if we compare those numbers with Buttler’s, Jurel stands no where.
RR Face Problems for IPL Auction
Last year Jos Buttler played 11 matches and scored 359 runs, including two tons and and at average of 40. His strike rate was also over 140. His overall IPL record is also excellent, where in 107 matches he has scored 3582 runs at a strike rate of 147. Yes, Dhruv Jurel is a good player, but then his worth lies more in the longest format of the game.
And if at all, RR wanted to desperately retain him, 14 Cr is still not justified for a player who is yet to prove his mettle in the league. Courtesy of that, not only does RR miss one explosive batter at the top of the order, but have no RTM card left for IPL Auction, to be held in Jeddah on Nov 24, 25.
There larger problem is, their six IPL retentions — Jurel, Sandeep Sharma, Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer have set them apart by 79 Cr. So, they have a purse of only 41 Cr left with them, to fill the space for at least five more players. In that, they certainly can’t bid for Indian biggies like Rishabh Pant and even KL Rahul. In a nutshell, this might just be their costliest mistake.
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