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Dhruv Jurel has rewarded the faith that decision-makers kept placing in him. And he's done so in some style.

Towards the end of June, he was named in the India 'A' squad that traveled to Sri Lanka for the so-called "shadow" tour, playing two unofficial Tests behind the main team's campaign. It was another sign that the selectors and coaches see something special in the young wicketkeeper-batter, and Jurel didn't disappoint.

The cricket world had seen its fair share of exceptional wicketkeeper-batters. India's own Farokh Engineer and Zimbabwe's wonderful Andy Flower were among those who had already left their mark on the game.

But everything changed nearly 27 years ago at the Gabba in Brisbane. A left-hander from Western Australia walked out on debut against Pakistan and smashed a brutal 81 runs, leaving the opposition shell-shocked. From that moment on, wicketkeeper-batters were never viewed the same way again.

That man was Adam Gilchrist, and he completely rewrote the rules of Test batting. Before his first Test, he had already made a name for himself as a destructive opener in limited-overs cricket. He played countless memorable knocks, including a stunning 149 in the 2007 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, with a squash ball tucked in his glove for company, which powered Australia to their third straight title.

But it was in the longest format where Gilchrist truly became a pioneer. He didn't just add depth to Australia's batting line-up; he scored runs at such breathtaking speed that opponents often found themselves scrambling, more often than not failing to find cover.