Cheteshwar Pujara’s resolute unbeaten 206 in the first Test has more or less cemented his place as a number three batsmen for India in the Test squad. Pujara playing only in his sixth Test match has a double century, century and a half century to his credit and it just shows his consistency and ability to score runs at the highest level of international cricket.
It is true that he has ability to replace Rahul Dravid at the number three position but then that does not mean that he should be compared with Rahul Dravid.
It is too early to call him the new ‘Wall’ of Indian cricket. He is just six Tests old and it is unfair to compare him with the former Indian skipper. Dravid was a total different class while Cheteshwar is player of different quality.
Pujara is a great talent and his career so far is the testimony to that. He can very well cement his place as a number three batsman in the side and it is his hunger to score runs that has made him successful in his short career.
Pujara is his last innings against England played for close to nine hours for his unbeaten 206 and it just shows his temperament to play the longer version of the game. The way he was batting, it looked like he could have gone onto play for many more hours. It is this quality of his that makes him a suitable for the number three position left vacant by Dravid’s retirement.
Pujara prizes his wicket and does not throw it impulsively. He reacts according to the situation and oozes confidence. It now has been proved that he can score at will against any bowling attack on the Indian soil but his real Test lies in overseas conditions. He is a fantastic player in sub-continent conditions and will now have to prove his ability in testing overseas conditions.
Pujara has always been phenomenal in the domestic season and it is good to see that he has carried that form into international arena. He has it in him to go onto become one of the batting legends for India but being a youngster, he should avoid complacency and focus on his good work.
By Indian Sports News Network