Know Your Player – Cheteshwar Pujara
Cricketing milestones, rise through the ranks, trials and tribulations and their glamorous lifestyles – we cover it all in ‘Know Your Player’, a brand-new section aimed at keeping you updated with everything you need to know! In this edition, we take a look at India’s new Mister dependable, Cheteshwar Pujara. Keep watching this space for a new superstar every time!
The Rise
Pujara made his Under-19 Test debut for India against England in 2005. Opening the innings, he scored 211 runs to help India win by an innings and 137 runs. He also featured in the Indian squad for the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup and was the leading run-scorer of the tournament. Churning out runs by a truckload in domestic cricket, the right-hand batsman waited for his big break.
Pujara made his debut in the second Test of the home series against Australia on 9 October 2010 at Bangalore. Pujara scored four runs in his first Test innings. In the second innings, he was sent in at number three in place of Rahul Dravid. With India needing 207 runs to win, he made 72 before being bowled by an arm ball from Nathan Hauritz. In August 2012, Pujara celebrated his first International Test century, 159 against New Zealand at Hyderabad.
Career Highlights
Off The Field
Cheteshwar Pujara plies his trade primarily in the Test cricket which is not as glamourous as the IPL. This also means he misses out on lucrative advertisements and public eye-balls. Pujara thus has a low-profile in general. However, the batsman is praised for his solidarity at the crease and sometimes displays his dry sense of humour.
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