AUS vs IND: Will Cheteshwar Pujara stand tall for India once again?
India versus Australia is one of the most exciting fixtures in the international calendar. Both the teams have fierce competitors and while the limited-overs series are intense, it is the Test cricket, the prestigious Border-Gavaskar trophy where a lot more is at stake.
The last time India toured Australia in 2018-2019, they reclaimed the trophy and became the 1st Indian touring side to ever win a Test series in Australia. The scenario is different this time around. Most of the Indian players may be slightly jaded after an exhausting IPL while most of the Australians are fresh and ready. Add to that, with India’s skipper, Virat Kohli will miss the latter 3 Tests. However, one batsman, who thoroughly dominated the last series is bound to hold the key this time around as well. Will Cheteshwara Pujara stand tall for India once again?
The new wall of India
Cheteshwara Pujara isn’t the flashiest of players. He isn’t someone who enjoys the limelight. But he has been one of the most consistent Test batsmen for India, for more than half a decade now. In 77 Tests, Pujara has scored 5840 runs at an average of 48.7, with 18 tons. He is known for his watertight technique. He loves batting and prefers getting a move on once he has completely tired the bowlers. He is one of the rare few left with this approach. And this very approach helped India immensely on the last tour.
Pujara batted for more than 22 hours while scoring 521 runs (his scores – 123, 71, 24, 4, 106, 0, 193) at across the four matches in 2018-19.pic.twitter.com/z0xNaILqTb https://t.co/vyX1QpzJDh
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) November 18, 2020
In the first game at Adelaide which India won, Pujara had an outstanding time. In the first innings, where the rest of the wickets fell like nine pins, Pujara held his own amongst the ruins and crafted an unbelievable ton. In the 2nd innings again, he looked ominous and scored a half-century. He ended up scoring 194 runs in aggregate. While he didn’t do much in the 2nd Test which India eventually lost, he scored another ton, 106 in the third Test. It was an important 100 as it helped India wrestle control and establish their dominance in the game. It was a painfully long ton, with Pujara taking more than 300 balls to get to it. His innings completely deflated the Aussies.
In the 4th Test, Pujara just toyed with the exhausted Aussie bowlers. India couldn’t lose the series and they played like a team in control. Pujara notched up another ton, his 3rd in the series, to go along with his sole fifty. He fell agonisingly short of a double ton as he was dismissed for 193. Pujara finished the series with 521 runs in 7 innings at an average of 74.5. It was the perfect series for him. He played out the difficult overs and then made hay when the bowlers were down and out. He was rightfully awarded the player of the series trophy as well.
Eyes on Pujara
In Kohli’s absence, Pujara will have to try and have a similar series if he wants India to get even close to winning. This current Australian team is much more confident than the last one. They will come hard at Pujara and test his technique to the fullest. Question is, will Pujara have the answers once again? Indian fans will surely be hoping he does, while the Aussies would want to see his back as soon as possible.
