India, Dec. 29 -- The chatter around India's ODI squad has turned into a straight shootout for the backup wicketkeeper's slot, with Ishan Kishan's name roaring back into the frame and questions being asked about where Rishabh Pant fits right now.

And right in the middle of the noise, Dhruv Jurel produced the kind of innings that doesn't need a PR campaign: it walks into the selection room on its own.

Playing for Uttar Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Jurel hammered an unbeaten 160 off 101 balls, a knock loaded with authority and range, 15 fours, eight sixes, and the kind of late-innings acceleration that takes a 300-looking total past the 350 mark. Uttar Pradesh finished at 369 for 7, and what stood out wasn't just the brutality, but...