Published: Jul 02, 2011, 04:25 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 21, 2014, 07:41 PM (IST)
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
On October 13, 2010 a youngster from Saurashtra walked out to bat for India at No 3 after they had lost Virender Sehwag early in pursuit of a target of 207 against the touring Australians at Bangalore. India had won the first Test of the series by just one wicket and they needed to win the second to hold on to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten showed faith in the talented Cheteshwar Pujara on his Test debut to bat at the vital No 3 position in the run-chase – ahead of the great Rahul Dravid in a match India had to win.
What happened after that pleased not only the Indian team management but also thousands of fans who had heard this batsman’s name for his run-making ability. Pujara scored 72 off 89 deliveries and calmed India’s nerves after the early loss of Sehwag. The manner in which he scored those runs amazed one, all including the Australians. He did not let Sehwag’s dismissal affect India’s run-rate as he kept rotating the strike, and hit boundaries when the opportunity presented itself. When he was dismissed, India were well on course to a famous 2-0 series win.
Pujara’s performance on debut doesn’t just speak of his talent but also his temperament. A Test debut is never easy, but when you are sent at No 3, ahead of a stalwart like Dravid, and that too during a series-defining run-chase, the pressure sky high. Since then he has played two Test matches in South Africa without making waves.
During the Indian Premier League 2011, Pujara picked up an injury while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore. As a result he missed the remainder of Bangalore’s campaign and also couldn’t board the flight to the West Indies for the Test series. The selectors will soon sit to pick the squad for the tour to England and if Pujara is fit he should book his place.
Although Suresh Raina has done well so far in the Test matches in the West Indies, one must remember that the conditions in England would be really challenging for a player like him. If Raina struggles in England, you need a strong back-up for him for the No 6 spot. Pujara merits a place in the team simply because he has sound technique and the runs behind him in first class cricket.
In June 2010, when India A toured England, Pujara starred in the first-class games. Here are his numbers for that tour:
|
M |
Runs |
Highest |
Average |
100s |
50s |
|
3 |
322 |
208* |
161.00 |
1 |
1 |
He thus has the experience in English conditions which will hold him in good stead. He has showed the technique required at the highest level and his numbers in England push his case for selection for what is termed as the battle between the two best teams in Test cricket.
It wasn’t just the first-class games that he starred in. He was the top scorer even in the List A games. Here are his numbers in the List A games during India A’s tour of England 2010:
|
M |
Runs |
Highest |
Average |
100s |
50s |
|
7 |
454 |
122* |
90.80 |
2 |
2 |
When you look at these numbers and also bring his overall first class record into picture, the word prolific can have no better definition. When you hear the name Cheteshwar Pujara, you think consistency. Even as a young boy, in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2006, Pujara topped the run charts. And since then he has continued to score heavily in domestic cricket.
Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Sachin Tendulkar have been the backbone of India’s success over the last few years and they are not going to be around in international cricket for very long. Players like Pujara need to be given enough opportunities so that they are ready to fill in the big shoes when the time is right. For years, Pujara has scored runs in domestic cricket and on A tours, it is time he is given a good run in the international side as he is a long term option for India.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya, a 20-year-old law student, is a club and college-level cricketer. His teachers always complain, “He knows the stats and facts of cricket more than the subjects we teach him.”)
