The wicketkeeper-batter opened up about his emotional reaction when Rajasthan Royals signed him at the 2022 IPL mega auction.
Dhruv Jurel recalled his first reaction after Rajasthan Royals signed him at the 2022 Indian Premier League mega auction. The inaugural IPL champions picked him at his base price of twenty lakh rupees. His journey to that moment, however, was marked by uncertainty and emotional turmoil on the auction stage.
Nobody bid for Jurel when his name came up for the first time during the auction process. He started receiving calls from home, with a lot running through his mind as the moments passed. When his name came up for the second time, Rajasthan Royals raised their paddle to secure his services, according to an appearance on the Aakash Chopra podcast.
"Nobody bid for me when my name came up for the first time. I started getting calls from home, and a lot was going on in my mind. RR raised their paddle when my name came up for the second time. I was crying; I was in tears," Jurel said in the above mentioned source.
"Even my relatives would not ask when I would play for India. They only asked when I would play in the IPL. I thought, now I will tell all my relatives that I will play in the IPL," he added.
Jurel's early IPL experience and learning phase
The emotional weight of the auction moment reflected the significance of IPL participation for Jurel and his family. His relatives had been focused on his IPL prospects rather than his international cricket aspirations. The signing by Rajasthan Royals represented a major milestone in his career trajectory at that stage.
Jurel got his first experience of the IPL after joining Rajasthan Royals at the mega auction ahead of the 2022 season. During his time with the franchise, he was exposed to established international and domestic players. He recalled being mesmerised by the presence of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, R Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal in the squad.
"I was mesmerized seeing Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, R Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal. I got a lot of exposure. I still feel that I was lucky that I didn't play any game that year because I know I was not ready," Jurel said.
Jurel on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's remarkable IPL 2026 season
By IPL 2026, Jurel had progressed significantly and was playing alongside younger talent in the Rajasthan Royals squad. He opened up about his experience of playing with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old who made an immediate impact in the tournament. Sooryavanshi won the Orange Cap for scoring 776 runs across 16 outings at a strike rate of 237.31.
"He deserves all the praise. What he does, you can't even think about it, even in your dreams. A 15-year-old smashing everybody. There is a wow factor. I never get jealous of him. There is no comparison either, as I think, what will I compare? It's beyond thinking," said Jurel.