'They changed my life' - Dhruv Jurel opens up on support received by Rajasthan Royals in IPL

Dhruv Jurel addresses Rajasthan Royals captaincy talks ahead of IPL 2026, vowing to give his his all for the team while keeping the focus on winning the championship.

Dhruv Jurel (Image Credit: Rajasthan Royals)

The build-up to IPL 2026 has seen Dhruv Jurel emerge as one of the most talked-about names in Indian cricket, with speculation mounting that the young wicketkeeper-batter could be handed the captaincy of Rajasthan Royals (RR). Addressing the rumors, Jurel made it clear that while the captaincy would be an honor, his priority is to give everything to the franchise that gave him his break in the Indian Premier League.

Since joining Rajasthan Royals in 2023, Jurel has grown into one of the team’s most reliable performers. His batting statistics underline his potential, with close to 700 runs scored at an excellent strike rate across just three seasons. More importantly, he has shown the ability to finish games under pressure and field with energy, making him one of the most complete young cricketers in the league. It is this consistency and temperament that have fueled talk of him being a future leader.

Speaking on the matter, Jurel emphasized that roles and titles are secondary to him. He credited the Royals for placing their trust in him at a crucial stage of his career, pointing out that the franchise had changed his life by giving him an opportunity when he needed it most. For him, the focus is not on whether he becomes captain but on working as hard as possible to take the team forward. He even described his approach as giving “2000%” for Rajasthan Royals, highlighting the level of passion and determination he feels towards the side.

"What I would say is that whatever role I get from Rajasthan Royals doesn’t matter, because they gave me an opportunity when I especially needed it, when I had to show my talent on a big platform. I would say Rajasthan Royals changed my life. They gave me the chance to showcase my ability. So it doesn’t matter whether I get the captaincy or not. From my side, I want to give 2000% for Rajasthan Royals," said Jurel in an interview on Breaking Sports with Vivek Sethia.

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The captaincy debate comes at a time when RR are searching for a turnaround after a poor 2025 campaign. Finishing ninth on the table, the team was left with many questions about its future direction. While Sanju Samson has been the face of the franchise for several years, there is growing curiosity about whether the Royals might look towards their younger core, including Jurel, Riyan Parag, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, to take on greater responsibility.

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