Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has reflected on his side's IPL 2026 campaign, which concluded with a seven-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 at New Chandigarh. Despite falling short of a final berth, Jurel maintained that Rajasthan played positive cricket throughout the season and had little to regret about their approach.

How the Qualifier 2 Unfolded

Rajasthan posted a competitive 214/6, powered by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's stunning 96. However, Shubman Gill's commanding 104 guided Gujarat to the target with ease, sealing their place in the final against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The title clash is scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Jurel's Philosophy Behind the Stumps

Jurel opened up on his approach to managing bowlers from behind the stumps, particularly first-timers. 'As a wicketkeeper, when I talk to bowlers, I never tell them what to bowl. I just say, brother, take your time. You are good enough. That is why you are here,' he said. He stressed that over-instructing debutants can breed self-doubt. 'You cannot tell a debutant exactly how to bowl. It is not easy. If you do, they start doubting themselves and end up making mistakes. So I focus on giving them confidence.'

Summing up the season, Jurel said, 'We have to play good cricket. We have played positive cricket and done that throughout this IPL season.'

A Batter Who Cannot Stop Batting

Jurel finished the season with 515 runs in 16 games as a top-order batter — one of RR's most dependable contributors. He attributed his form to an almost compulsive dedication to net practice. 'I love to bat. I keep telling Vikram Rathour sir, our batting coach, to give me more time in the nets, but he always says no,' Jurel said. His workaround: arriving early, staying late, and reclaiming any spare slot available. 'I just keep batting. When my turn ends, I take my pads off but leave them in the nets. If there's a gap later, I jump back in.'

Reading the Game, Backing the Openers

On adapting to T20 match situations, Jurel described a measured, situational approach. 'When I go out to bat, I take my time to settle in. I read the situation first — how the ball is coming off the wicket, what a par score would be, or what the required rate is if we are chasing,' he explained. With explosive openers like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi typically at the crease, Jurel's self-assigned role is to rotate strike, hold an end, and build partnerships without disrupting momentum.

What's Next for Jurel

After a short break, Jurel will link up with the Indian Test squad for the one-off match against Afghanistan on 6 June. He signed off by underlining the value of positive dressing-room communication. 'When someone tells me something before I go out to bat, it stays with me. I carry that thought into the middle. And when I can execute what we discussed, it gives me confidence,' he said. That mindset, he added, shapes not just personal performance but the entire team atmosphere.