Cheteshwar Pujara’s intent same as that of Rahul Dravid, feels Sunil Gavaskar

Cheteshwar Pujara scored 159 in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand © AFP

By CricketCountry Staff

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Hyderabad: Aug 24, 2012

 

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar heaved praise on Cheteshwar Pujara for his century against New Zealand in the first Test match of the two-match series played at Hyderabad on Thursday.

 

Pujara scored 159 against the Kiwis coming in to bat at the fall of the first wicket.

 

“Pujara displayed the right application and attitude and his choice of which deliveries to play and which to leave alone was Dravid like.”

 

Gavaskar drew further comparison of the Saurashtra batsman with Rahul Dravid.

 

“Pujara stepped into Dravid’s position once again as Indian cricket lovers watched with bated breath and showed that while the style is different, the intent is the same and that will have pleased all those who did not know what to expect.”

 

Pujara was promoted to bat at number three on his Test debut against Australia in the second innings in 2012. He had scored a match-winning 74 then.

 

“The day belonged to Pujara. He made an impact in his first Test itself a couple of years back when he scored a brilliant 70 odd against the Australians,” Gavaskar wrote in the Times of India.

 

“He had been promoted up the order that time ahead of Rahul Dravid and eyebrows were raised then, but his innings had helped India keep the momentum and carve out a famous win over the then number one team Australia,” Gavaskar concluded.