Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel earn BCCI Central Contract

Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel, who were the standout performers in the recently concluded Test series against England, have earned spots in the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) central contract. The announcement came after the BCCI Apex Council meeting on Monday, March 18, following their stellar contributions during the five-game series which India won by 4-1.

After announcing its central contracts for 2023-24 later in February, BCCI revealed that Sarfaraz Khan would be handed the central contract if they meet the requirement of featuring in three Tests in the ongoing season. Making their debuts in the third Test in Rajkot, the duo successfully met this criteria by taking part in the fifth and final Test at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala earlier this month. They have been inducted in Group C of the BCCI's central contract with an annual retainership fee of INR 1 crore. 

Impressive performances bear fruit for both

Sarfaraz, a prominent member of the Mumbai team at the domestic level, impressed with three half-centuries in five innings against the Ben Stokes-led side. Notably, two of these innings transpired during his debut Test in Rajkot. The 26-year-old finished the series with a total of 200 runs at an average of 50.

Jurel, on the other hand, played a pivotal role with a series-winning knock of 90 runs in the first innings of the fourth Test in Ranchi. His performance allowed India to bounce back a first-innings collapse, leading to a crucial five-wicket win and ultimately securing the series. In addition, he contributed an unbeaten 39 runs in the second innings of the same Test, subsequently earning him the Player of the Match award.

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The rookie wicketkeeper-batter, who had scored a crucial 46 on his debut, concluded the series with an impressive tally of 190 runs at an average of 63.33. Moreover, his efforts in the game have even drawn comparisons with the legendary MS Dhoni. Another phenomenal display from Jurel occurred in the fifth Test in Dharamshala, where he stitched a vital 72-run stand with Shubman Gill. Their partnership played a substantial role in helping the Rohit Sharma-led side chase down the 192-run target and secure a win.