What's new

"Many of the current Indian batsmen have learnt from the mistakes of the past" : Cheteshwar Pujara

Finally a 50 for Pujara - his first for 25 first class innings according to the bbc tms guys. Needs to go on and get a big one now.
 
Superb batting from Pujara today.

He's shown batsmen on both teams how to bat on this wicket at Southampton.
 
Finally, an Indian bar Kohli manages to get a hundred overseas after quite a while.
 
Five match series basically being played by the big three now only. If their player can’t manage a century in ten possible innings, then they deserve to be pilloried
 
First sign of pressure and all greatness goes out of the window
 
Dont post nonsense or bans will follow.
 
Cheteshwar Pujara raced past 5,000 Test runs and on the way scored one of his best centuries Thursday, with the experienced number three crediting a stint at Yorkshire for helping him prepare.

India vs Australia 2018, 1st Test: MATCH HOME – Live scores, updates, reports, videos

The 30-year-old compiled a patient 123 in hot and difficult conditions at Adelaide Oval to help India stay in the opening Test against Australia with 250-9 at stumps.

He rated his 16th Test ton as among his most memorable, hitting seven fours and two sixes in his 246-ball stay at the crease as wickets fell around him.

“It was one of my top innings in Test cricket, I could say top five. I can’t rate whether it was one of the best but the teammates who were appreciating said that this is one of the best,” he said.

Pujara began slowly, grinding out ones and twos, and only really started going after the bowlers as they tired towards the end of the day.

He was run out attempting a quick single on the second-last ball of the day by a diving Pat Cummins.

“I was a bit disappointed but I had to take that single because only the last two balls were left and I thought I should be on strike, so I took the chance but he fielded brilliantly,” he explained.

Pujara tends not to play much white ball cricket and said the extra time he had to prepare for the Test series had paid dividends.

He said his innings had demonstrated that he was as comfortable scoring runs overseas as at home.

“It means a lot (the century), but I would also like to say that people say that I’ve scored more runs in India,” said the right-hander, who is playing his 65th Test.

“But at the same time you need to look at the number of matches we play in India. So I will obviously score runs there.

“At times I’ve had bad phases playing overseas but I still feel very confident when it comes to different conditions.

“Playing county cricket has helped me a lot, and playing in England conditions are always challenging and when you come to Australia you know that it is slightly better.

“And as I said, I had a pretty decent time to prepare before this Test series.”

Pujara has had two stints as an overseas player for county side Yorkshire, in 2015 and again during the recent English summer. He has also appeared for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...ings-in-test-cricket-cheteshwar-pujara-774277
 
Last edited:
While other Indian batsmen "prepared"" by playing in IPL etc, Pujara prepared the right way by playing in county cricket.
 
Man! Pujara might have just saved the team's backside with his innings. He might have made just 123, but he has given India a slightly decent total. At one stage it looked like the whole team might be dismissed below 150.
 
Pujara's innings should be a lesson to the rest of the Indian top order that it is possible for Indian batsmen to score big in SENA countries if they apply themselves. Sometimes I think they have become too complacent. If India loses this series Shastri should be fired, and new young batsmen given a chance.
 
Cheteshwar Pujara was in the limelight for scoring his 17th Test century during the ongoing Melbourne Test against Australia. Cheteshwar Pujara's ton on Thursday was his second of the four-match Test series and that certainly has silenced the Saurashtra batsman's critics, some of whom earlier this year wanted him dropped from the Indian Test side. But all that criticism isn't getting into Pujara's head. At the press conference at the end of Day Two, he made it clear that he doesn't play international cricket to silence his critics.


"Well, when I play international cricket, I don't play to silence anyone, I just need to keep scoring runs and that is what I love to do. I don't want to get into all such things,” Pujara said.

“My job is to score runs and I'll keep doing that, whether its home or away. Sometimes you get criticised and you just have to accept it. But if India keep winning, ultimately everyone is happy.

So is Pujara relieved that he has added two away centuries to his repository of milestones? "Well, can't say I am relieved because I always knew I can score runs. It is always good to get those hundreds. It was a perception that I always score runs at home. But India play a lot of Test matches at home, I have always said that. Sometimes, things become really difficult, especially when you are on an overseas tour. It's not easy to score runs.

“Yes, as a batsman it is always challenging when you are playing abroad," he said.

https://sports.ndtv.com/australia-v...national-cricket-to-silence-his-criti-1968864
 
Another brilliant Test innings from Pujara.
 
Risk free cricket. Old school cricket is still alive. Great concentration levels. Chanderpaul, Kallis, Dravid would be proud of this concentration level
 
Good lad put his head down and worked on his game like Indian batsmen style , hopefully sticks on we need him for a while till we reach a safe zone.
 
Pujara has cranked it up in 2018. Well done.

Hope Rahane can follow through as well - these two are key in our line-up.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Test cricket has changed over the years but the requirement for proper Test batsmen will always be needed.<br>Cheteshwar Pujara:<br>4 matches<br>7 innings<br>521 runs<br>74.42 average<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/WyxfPAT0y4">pic.twitter.com/WyxfPAT0y4</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1082378920626929666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Cheteshwar Pujara on Saturday joined a select group of cricketing greats by smashing his 50th first-class century during Saurashtra’s Ranji Trophy group B match against Karnataka in Rajkot.

Pujara warmed up nicely for the upcoming Test series in New Zealand with a stylish 162 off 238 balls that had 17 fours and a six.

Pujara joined an elite list of nine Indians led by Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

The 31-year-old Pujara, who has 18 Test centuries to his credit, is fourth on the list of active players with most first-class centuries behind former England skipper Alastair Cook (65), former South Africa captain Hashim Amla (52) and India’s domestic cricket great Wasim Jaffer (57).

Among currently active Test players, the nearest contender to Pujara is Australia’s Steve Smith, who has 42 first-class centuries while his India teammates Virat Kohli (34) and Ajinkya Rahane (32) are much behind.

Pujara has already scored more than 15,000 runs in his first-class career, during which he has played 197 matches.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...fer-cook-amla-steve-smith/article30545117.ece
 
This is where he learns to build patient innings. He never misses domestic cricket despite being a world no.4 batsman No big ego.
 
Mamoon said:
Pujara might be tougher to dismiss, but he is nothing more than a superior version of Azhar Ali, because of the fact that he is much better against spin.

His technique is overrated as well. His low back-lift makes him a bunny against bounce, and he rarely survives a testing spell of fast bowling. The tours of Australia and the recent South African tour exhibited the difference in class between the two players.

Kohli might surpass Tendulkar, while Pujara will remain a poor man's Dravid. He cannot impose himself on the opposition and scores far too slowly to have any influence on the game. The opposition doesn't view him as a threat, and his wicket is nowhere near as prized as Kohli's.

Those who are calling him India's best Test batsman - how many teams in the world would have Pujara over Kohli in their teams? Alternatively, how many teams would prefer to take his wicket over Kohli's?

I think that pretty much sums it up. Pujara is a very good player, but Kohli is an all-time great. There is no comparison - it is not 2013 anymore. Kohli has left him in his dust in the last five years.
Click to expand...
Lol after Australia series.
 
khan_aa said:
Lol after Australia series.
Click to expand...

Nothing has changed though. Kohli is still the best Indian batsman by far and he demonstrated in England and South Africa how superior he is. The only thing that has changed is Pujara has performed better in Australia than expected, but that series has not closed the gap between him and Kohli.

Kohli surpassed Pujara as a Test batsman quite a few years ago. Perhaps he shouldn’t be called a superior version of Azhar Ali anymore. An inferior version of Pujara is still better than what Azhar is today.
 
Pujara looked a bit off in the Windies series and at home vs SA. If India has to win in New Zealand, he really has to step up along with Kohli. Need to bring back his 'A' game which he showcassed in Australia.
 
Ab Fan said:
Pujara looked a bit off in the Windies series and at home vs SA. If India has to win in New Zealand, he really has to step up along with Kohli. Need to bring back his 'A' game which he showcassed in Australia.
Click to expand...
vs south africa he was barely needed man. rohit and Mayank did the damage. puji was playing a different style. A style he isn't comfortable with as india just needed him to slog.
 
Gloucestershire Cricket is delighted to announce the signing of India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara for the first six matches of the County Championship.

Cheteshwar is a top-order batsman who is known for batting long periods and will bring his experience to a Gloucestershire side who will be playing in Division One of the County Championship for the first time in over a decade.

Pujara is currently seventh in the ICC Test Batting rankings, sitting only two points behind Australia’s David Warner.

Pujara expressed his eagerness to get started:

"I am really excited to get the opportunity to represent Gloucestershire this season. The Club has a rich cricketing history, and this is a great opportunity to be a part of it and contribute to its success.

I am grateful to the Club for giving me this opportunity and cannot wait to get to Bristol to meet my teammates and score some runs. I have really enjoyed the experience of coming over to the UK and playing county cricket over the last few years and I am looking forward to building on that whilst continuing to improve my game."

The right-handed batsman made his Test debut for India in 2010 against Australia. In 2012, he made his first international Test century against New Zealand in Hyderabad where he scored 159.

He has an incredible batting average of 49.48 in Test cricket with 206* being his high score, which he made against England in his home state of Gujarat, India. He has an equally impressive First-class average of 53.99 with a high score of 352 for Saurashtra against Karnataka.

Pujara has previously played in England for Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire in the County Championship.

Gloucestershire Head Coach Richard Dawson said:

“Cheteshwar is a player with great temperament who will add international experience to the squad. He is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in world cricket and we are very fortunate to have him in our squad for the start of the County Championship campaign.

Adding Pujara to a strong batting line-up gives me great confidence ahead of our opening County Championship matches.”

Pujara is the first Indian player to play for Gloucestershire since Javagal Srinath in 1995. Srinath, who took 87 wickets in the solitary season he represented The Shire, famously said his time at the Club shaped his view of what it means to be a professional, thanking his captain Jack Russell in particular.

He will join the squad ahead of the opening County Championship match against Yorkshire at Emerald Headingley on Sunday 12 April.
 
Good for him. Very few guardians of the longer versions of the game. Plays every first class match possible.
Wish we had more Pujaras in domestic. These days they score at a strike rate of 70 in first class.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Good for him. Very few guardians of the longer versions of the game. Plays every first class match possible.
Wish we had more Pujaras in domestic. These days they score at a strike rate of 70 in first class.
Click to expand...

It sucks how he’s India’s best test batsman in the best format of the game yet he probably makes the least amount of money compared Mickey Mouse t20 lallus
 
He has been in horrible touch since epic Australia series. 8 matches with an average of 28.00 and no century.
 
Cheteshwar Pujara finds the constant fuss over his strike rate a tad unfair and wants to clarify once and for all that he has got full backing of the team management which understands the "importance" of his style of play. In the age of slam-bang cricket, Pujara brings delight to the purists of the game by batting on and on without worrying too much about the strike-rate.

But to appreciate someone who epitomises patience in Test cricket is may be asking for too much from the "millennials". Last week, the soft-spoken 32-year-old from Rajkot found himself at the receiving end again on social media as he laboured his way to 66 off 237 balls in the Ranji Trophy final against Bengal.

To his credit, he overcame fever and throat infection to share a game-changing stand with Arpit Vasavada, helping Saurashtra to their maiden title on the basis of first innings lead.

Whether it is playing for Saurashtra or India, Pujara is used to constant chatter around his strike-rate.

"I don't think there is too much talk (on the inside). In media, it is described differently but the team management has been backing me on this completely. There is no pressure from the captain, coach or anyone else," Pujara, who is currently getting much-needed family time due to the COVID-19 outbreak, told PTI.

"I just want to clarify that when it comes to strike rate people start pointing towards team management's take on it but there is no pressure on me at all. The team management understands my style of play and its importance."

For someone who averages 48.66 in 77 Tests, perception counts for little.

"The question that was asked on social media (during Ranji final) was 'why am I taking so long to score X number of runs'? Whether I pay attention to that, no, I don't. My job is to make sure that the team wins at all times.

"People have this tendency to pinpoint one person but it is just not about me. If you look at any Test series where I have scored runs and taken little bit of time, the opposition batsmen, most of them, have consumed same number of balls.

"I know I can't be a David Warner or Virender Sehwag but if a normal batsman takes time there is nothing wrong in that."

The entire batting unit had a tough time in New Zealand with the 0-2 loss in Tests marking the end of the international season.

Pujara collected five half centuries this season, including one in New Zealand, but could not add to his 18 hundreds.

"People expect big knocks from me. I always challenge myself to score a 100 but to average close to 50 in Tests means you are scoring a half-century almost every second innings.

"My standards are always high and I am not satisfied with the season that I had but I would not call it a bad one at all."

It may be boring and exhausting for majority of the fans, batting time and wearing out the opposition excites Pujara the most. Asked why they don't make it like him anymore, Pujara gave a practical response.

"I don't think it is on the decline (art of batting time). There is value for it. May be the youngsters are not inclined towards this format. It is a fact that there are more games in white-ball cricket. A youngster would want to play shorter formats because it is financially better.

"There is nothing wrong with that but they should understand that real cricket is Test cricket and you will be judged only on the performances in the five-day game."

With uncertainty over the upcoming county season in the UK due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Pujara has no game time lined up in the near future.

The biggest international assignment for him this season is the tour of Australia and he can't be more fired up for that.

Rather than focusing on the loss in New Zealand, Pujara looked at the Australian challenge, especially after India's historic triumph Down Under last year.

"It is one of the most important series for us."

On playing a full-strength Australia this time, he said: "They (Smith and Warner) are important players but if we played the way we played in the last series, we should be able to beat them.

"Fast bowlers have to be fresh and ready for that series and I am sure their workload will be managed. Best part about the tour is that we recently played in Australia (2018-19). I feel that is the biggest advantage for us."

Pujara acknowledges that no team, including India, is doing consistently well overseas and picked the reducing pool of quality Test cricketers as the reason for this trend.

"The importance of limited overs cricket has increased significantly. You are not getting too many quality Test players. Earlier, there was a lot of importance given to a Test series. Players used to take ample rest before that. Now we see so many injuries during the season.

"If you look India, Australia, England, the pool of players will be not more than 20-25 whereas if you talk about 10 years ago, India used to have 30-50 players who were ready for Test cricket. I am not saying there are no players available. But if they are ready for Test cricket or not, that is the question."

Over the past 24 months, India have lost Test series in England, South Africa and New Zealand.

Pujara said the batsmen's shot selection could have been better in New Zealand where they were completely outplayed.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/che...-over-his-strike-rate-in-test-matches-2197580
 
Pujara struggles badly in seaming and swinging conditions. But makes it count like most Indian batsmen when the pitch has nothing for the bowlers.
 
pujara is a good player and even though I can't stand him he always somehow managed to step up if he is about to be dropped.
 
Pujara is a high quality batsmen. I liked the way he showed resillience and patience when Wagner was testing him with short deliveries one after another. He got out to a delivery of Boult but he showed good fight till then. On other end, Rahane was making a mockery of his test stature.
 
Cheteshwar Pujara is one of the most accomplished batsmen in Test cricket in the world right now. In the age of bam-bam cricket, Pujara brings a sense of calm and patience while batting at the number 3 position for India. He has bailed out his team from tricky situations in several situations and is always one of the first names in the starting eleven for Team India. Even though he has established his name in the longest format of the game, Pujara has been unable to secure a team in the Indian Premier League.

Pujara last played in the 2014 season for Kings XI Punjab but his low strike rate has deterred suitors in the past few seasons. Some players have had similar strike-rates (110 approx) but got picked by franchises but the architect of India’s historic series win in Australia in 2018-19 has been left high and dry.

Does it hurt or irk him, letting others decide about his credentials as a T20 player?

“As a cricketer, I can’t have that opinion. Also I feel that I am someone who will never have such egos because I have seen and known IPL auctions to be tricky,” Pujara told PTI during an exclusive interview.

“I have seen world class players like Hashim Amla go unsold at the auctions. There have been lot of good T20 players, who have missed out on auction. So I don’t have any big ego that they are not picking me. Yes, given a choice I would like to play IPL,” said India’s most important Test batsman alongside skipper Virat Kohli.

Does he feel to be a victim of public perception so prevalent in the Indian cricket eco-system?


“I would say yes, it’s a perception being tagged as a Test player and I can’t do much about it,” said the man who set up India’s 2-1 series win in Australia with more than 500 runs in the 2018-19 away series.

“I have always said that I should get opportunities and once I get opportunities, then only I can prove myself as white ball cricketer. I have performed well in List A cricket (average of 54), also in domestic T20s (century in Mushtaq Ali Trophy). I have done well in List A games in England.

“Performance is something which I can control and I will do that. Only thing I can do is wait for my opportunity. I am more than happy to play all formats. As long as I playing the game, I will remain a student of the game as there is no end to what you can learn. But as and when I get an opportunity, then only I can change the perception.,” said the affable man from Rajkot.Other years during IPL, Pujara is in England playing county cricket either for Derbyshire, Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire which wasn’t possible due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Isn’t it frustrating that when all his India mates will be getting to play matches (in IPL), he can only have net sessions with still no clarity on domestic cricket?

“Disappointed ‘Yes’ but frustrating ‘No’. I haven’t been able to go to UK not because I didn’t want to play or they didn’t want me but because of the situation which is same for all cricketers.I have to understand these are tough times. It is more important to be with family and stay safe and not worry too much about not getting too much match practice. There are people, who have endured way more difficulties,” he said.

Contentment is key to leading a good life and the 32-year-old with 77 Test matches and nearly 6000 runs (5840 with 18 hundreds) understands that.”I wouldn’t say that I feel like I don’t have this or I don’t have that. I am happy with what I have got,” he said.

“Be it for Indian Oil in office cricket or playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy, my commitment is always above 100 percent. My commitment is to the game and remaining true to it. I have won matches for India.”Nothing beats the feeling when you win matches for India with millions supporting you. I know that feeling and you can’t beat that,” he concluded.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...pl-auctions/story-cM8t1tqmOZmPvmrQZTm0RP.html
 
Good man. Stay away from T20s and improve your game against bouncers. We need you to do better during the next NZ tour.
 
"I couldn't have done anything better than what I was doing," senior batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said, putting up a stout defence of his ultra-defensive batting that came in for heavy criticism on the third day of the third Test against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground.

Pujara said it was some brilliant bowling by the Australians which forced him to crawl to his slowest ever Test half-century.

Pujara scored 50 off 176 balls as his slow batting helped Australia gain complete control of the third Test with an overall lead of 197 runs.

"I was batting well and got a good ball. I just have to accept it. I couldn't have done anything better than what I was doing. I feel I just have to bat the way, I know," Pujara said during the day-end media conference.

According to Pujara, his nemesis Patrick Cummins bowled the "ball of the series" about which he couldn't do anything.

"He bowls unplayable deliveries. I felt that was the best ball of this series. I don't think I could have done anything about that ball which kicked from back of length, I had to play that ball as there was extra bounce. When its not your day, the margin of error is very little," he explained.

He also didn't pay much credence to theories that a finger injury sustained during nets at the MCG was the reason for not being able to play freely.

"Not really, I think. I don't think it put any trouble as far as my batting is concerned. It's not easy and I am not hundred percent (fit). I won't say I am completely normal. This was something that was expected and I can manage this little bit of pain. It's an important game so I can't miss out," Pujara said.

Asked why he didn't bring out the hook or pull shot when Australian bowlers employed the three-man leg side trap, Pujara effectively dodged the question.

"They bowled good line and lengths. They had fair idea of this pitch. I think we should give credit to the way they bowled. They didnt give too many loose balls," he said.

In fact he felt that difference in this Test match has been the relative inexperience of the bowling attack.

"If you look at our fast bowling line-up, they are slightly inexperienced but they are improving day by day, they will get better. It's a good opportunity for them to learn and I am sure we have good bunch of fast bowlers who can learn from best and get better as they play more games," he said.

He termed Rishabh Pant's dismissal as the turning point of the Indian innings.

"If you look at the way our innings was progressing, we were in trouble only when Rishabh got out. Till then we were in a comfortable position. We were 180 for 4, and we were doing well. Things turned around when Rishabh got out and then I got out. We didn't score many after that. Losing Rishabh was a turnaround.

"If we had a partnership going, we would have certainly put a decent total on the board. Our aim was to get close to 330 or 340 but we missed out there. And yes losing Ajinkya Rahane early in the first session, was also a big blow."

Pujara said that losing Ravindra Jadeja's bowling in the second innings would be crucial as they are now bowler short.

"To be honest, it does affect as we are only left with four bowlers. It puts little extra pressure on other bowlers to come in and put extra overs. It's never easy to lose a bowler and someone like Ravindra who got four wickets in first innings and can keep bowling from one end.

"Jadeja can land the ball on same spot and puts pressure on the batsman, he bowls many dot balls. He is always valuable not just as a bowler but also a fielder. It's a kind of blow for us but we will comeback strongly. First session will be crucial. We will definitely put up a better show tomorrow morning."

https://www.outlookindia.com/websit...-and-it-makes-some-interesting-reading/369957
 
Pujara v Cummins this series.

19/4 (129 balls).

Our poor man's Rahul Dravid hasn't been too flash this series.
 
Was unbelievably negative in that innings. I'm all for batting time but against this attack you cannot completely go into a shell like that. A few quick wickets and you realise the score has gone nowhere.
 
Ricky Ponting says India's precarious position in the third Vodafone Test is in part down to their "lacklustre" batting effort, particularly that of senior player Cheteshwar Pujara.

While Pujara was India's equal top-scorer with 50 alongside rookie Shubman Gill, his runs came from 176 balls for a strike rate of just 28.41.

The go-slow approach by India's middle order backfired against a relentless Australian attack, who bowled out the visitors for 244 in 100.4 overs to take a 94-run lead that grew to 197 by stumps on day three, with eight wickets still in hand.

Ponting had India ahead after two days but after witnessing Pujara's stonewall innings on Saturday, he says the right-hander's defensive mindset kept Australia in the game.

"I think (Pujara) has got to be better than that," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"He's 16 off his first 100 balls with no boundaries. That is – and I don't care who you are – if you're at the other end and someone is batting like that, so much more pressure comes back on you because you know you have to be the one that's going to keep the scoreboard ticking over (and) trying to get some momentum going your way as a team.

"If you're going to play that way and bat that long, he's got to back himself to make sure he gets 100, 150 at least.

"To bat like he did today, finally get a great ball from (fast bowler Pat) Cummins, although he got 50, he just hadn't hurt the Australians at all.

"In fact, batting like he did actually kept Australia in the game.

"Although Pujara got the 50 that he got, he's as guilty as anyone for slack, lacklustre batting."

Pujara wasn't the only Indian batter to stay in his shell.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane scored 22 from 70 deliveries and No.5 Hanuma Vihari made four from 38 balls before he was sensationally run out by Australia quick Josh Hazlewood.

But Ponting says Hazlewood's miraculous run out was born out of the Indians scrambling for runs because the scoring had dried up.

"The run out was good but when you look at the batting around it, it was so poor," Ponting said.

"(Vihari) was four from 37 balls before that so the pressure was all on, and that's what led to him trying to take a single that was never there.

"Yes, it was a great piece of fielding, but he was out by three or four yards."

Cummins removed Pujara for the fourth time in a row in this series with a nasty delivery that leapt at the right-hander and took his glove through to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

It means Pujara now has 113 runs at 22.60 this series with a strike rate of 27 runs per 100 balls faced, figures that are significantly down from the 521 runs at a strike rate of 41 he recorded two years ago on Australian soil.

Ponting says the issue is "absolutely intent" for Pujara, who has let the Australian bowlers dictate terms.

"We saw it even against Lyon in the back-half of his innings today, he started using his feet and hitting the ball through the field – he didn't do that for his first 120-130 balls," he said.

"You can't tell me it takes you that long to get in and get settled and work out what the wicket's playing like or what the bowlers are bowling like.

"He's got no cross-batted shots at all, he's got no pull shot, the Aussies are not feeding him on the cut shot.

"He's got to find a way to score quicker than that because that's not going to win his team any games.

"I know people will say 'he did the same thing out here last time' but he didn't.

"He batted for a long period of time but he scored a lot quicker than what he scored today."

"He's got no cross-batted shots at all, he's got no pull shot, the Aussies are not feeding him on the cut shot.

"He's got to find a way to score quicker than that because that's not going to win his team any games.

"I know people will say 'he did the same thing out here last time' but he didn't.

"He batted for a long period of time but he scored a lot quicker than what he scored today."

"He's got no cross-batted shots at all, he's got no pull shot, the Aussies are not feeding him on the cut shot.

"He's got to find a way to score quicker than that because that's not going to win his team any games.

"I know people will say 'he did the same thing out here last time' but he didn't.

"He batted for a long period of time but he scored a lot quicker than what he scored today."
 
This was one of Pujara's absolute worst innings. To bat 176 balls for 50 when you side ends up conceding a lead of a hundred is unforgivable. He was always going to get a ball with his name on it but his complete rejection of the prospect of scoring with even a little bit of intent killed the innings for India. If India end up losing the match alot of the blame should fall on him for not making those 176 balls count.
 
Watching Pujara bat yesterday was like watching paint dry. And this is coming from someone who loves test cricket.
 
Pujara tiring Aus pacers in both series win

One thing that went against Aus in both series was Pujara forcing Aus pacers to bowl lots of overs.

In the first series win in Aus: Pujara played 209 overs himself. To put it in perspective, 2nd highest over occupied was by Kohli and it was 114 overs.


In 2nd series win in Aus: Pujara played 152 over himself. The 2nd highest was 94 overs by Rahane.


Given that most of the Puajara time came in the last 3 tests, he really tired the Aus pace attack. It was visible in the first series win where they were totally out of gas by the 4th test and pretty much out of the game but rain denied India a 3-1 win.

This time, Vihari/Jadeja/Pant/Thakur/Sundar were also helped by the fact that Pujara tired them enough to not have enough energy. They were visibly tired. It was mostly 4 bowlers bowling overs in both series for Aus.


Pujara scored lots of runs in the first series and did not score that many runs in the 2nd test series win, but he helped by taking the gas out of the Aus pace attack. Just looking at runs may not reflect how big a contribution he did in 2nd series win. In Gaba yesterday, he made sure that Aus did not pick up wickets from one end and put India in a situation where they could not lose the test in the last one hour of play. That allowed India to go for a win. The normal score for all teams in such situations becomes 150/4.

It was a fighting knock where he took 10-12 hard blows in his body to kill any chance of Aus win by blocking one end. It's very demoralizing for pace bowlers to keep seeing the same batsman over after over and surviving despite whatever they dish out.


Not many runs in 2nd series win, but an ATG contribution by Pujara even in this. What do you all think?
 
After his performance in the last two series in Australia, he deserves to be considered at the same level as Dravid.

One of the mentally toughest and resilient Test batsmen ever.
 
Break it up a bit for 2nd series win,

In Sydney: 127(381)
In Gaba: 81(305)
In Adelaide: 43(168)

In the last two tests, he really tired Aus bowlers. Aus bowlers must be sick of seeing his face.
 
Last edited:
Stalled the so-called australian way of playing cricket, that is, to keep it moving. Made sure literally nothing happened for long stretches in the game. Wore them down but just as importantly, got under their collective skin. Not just the bowlers but the whole set commentating as well. Mark Waugh, Ponting, Warne and a few others rambled on through gritted teeth on how he just doesn't move the game forward. LMAO.
 
Great player. In terms of resilience and courage, he is probably on par with Dravid and up there with the greatest of all-time.

Not an ATG but a great test player along the lines of Geoffrey Boycott and Alastair Cook.
 
77(205) & 56(211), the value of these knocks are much bigger than these numbers.

Honestly, as a test batter, he is as good as Williamson and Root.
 
Buffet said:
One thing that went against Aus in both series was Pujara forcing Aus pacers to bowl lots of overs.

In the first series win in Aus: Pujara played 209 overs himself. To put it in perspective, 2nd highest over occupied was by Kohli and it was 114 overs.


In 2nd series win in Aus: Pujara played 152 over himself. The 2nd highest was 94 overs by Rahane.


Given that most of the Puajara time came in the last 3 tests, he really tired the Aus pace attack. It was visible in the first series win where they were totally out of gas by the 4th test and pretty much out of the game but rain denied India a 3-1 win.

This time, Vihari/Jadeja/Pant/Thakur/Sundar were also helped by the fact that Pujara tired them enough to not have enough energy. They were visibly tired. It was mostly 4 bowlers bowling overs in both series for Aus.


Pujara scored lots of runs in the first series and did not score that many runs in the 2nd test series win, but he helped by taking the gas out of the Aus pace attack. Just looking at runs may not reflect how big a contribution he did in 2nd series win. In Gaba yesterday, he made sure that Aus did not pick up wickets from one end and put India in a situation where they could not lose the test in the last one hour of play. That allowed India to go for a win. The normal score for all teams in such situations becomes 150/4.

It was a fighting knock where he took 10-12 hard blows in his body to kill any chance of Aus win by blocking one end. It's very demoralizing for pace bowlers to keep seeing the same batsman over after over and surviving despite whatever they dish out.

Not many runs in 2nd series win, but an ATG contribution by Pujara even in this. What do you all think?
Click to expand...

Agreed. Take Pant's innings away and India probably would have drawn the match (with Washington and Thakur playing out time). Take Pujara's innings away and India would probably have lost the match.
 
Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara has claimed that he still has aspirations to play white-ball cricket for Team India. Pujara had made a big name for himself in Test cricket but he failed to make an impact in limited-overs cricket with the games he’s played. Pujara’s last appearance in ODI came in 2014 against Bangladesh. Also Read - India vs England 2021 Tests: Joe Root-Led Side Will be Buoyed by Ravindra Jadeja's Absence - Mark Butcher

Pujara has so far represented India in 5 ODIs and he is yet to make his debut in T20I cricket. Also Read - Shubman Gill Looks Like Real Player For Future of India: Michael Hussey

“I still have aspirations to play white-ball cricket for Team India, there’s no doubt about that. Yes, at the same time it becomes difficult when other guys are getting some match practice,” Pujara said on Sports Today. Also Read - ICC World Test Championship 2021: Pakistan Pip South Africa to Take 5th Spot After Karachi Test Win, Virat Kohli-Led India Continue to Dominate No.1 Position Ahead of New Zealand

Pujara has not been part of the Indian Premier League in the past couple of years after getting unsold.

The Indian talisman said he didn’t get any match practice before the Australia tour which made things a little difficult for him.

“After the lockdown, I didn’t have any match practice before the Australia tour so to prepare for that big series it became a little difficult. Otherwise, if there was no COVID then there would have been some first-class games which I would have played.”

Pujara claimed it was difficult for him to gain rhythm, concentration during the initial stage of the Australia tour due to lack of practice.

“But because of the COVID lockdown, there were not many FC games which I could play. I only played 1 game (warm-up match) before the Test series started so as a batter it was difficult to gain the rhythm, concentration. Early on it was difficult but as I started playing few more games, it took me a couple of Test matches to find the right way (to bat in Australia),” Pujara further said.

Pujara will next play for India in the England series, which will commence from February 5.

https://www.india.com/sports/chetes...ay-white-ball-cricket-for-team-india-4367059/
 
https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/world-test-championship-cheteshwar-pujara-reveals-indias-wtc-final-kit-says-cant-wait-to-get-on-the-field-2452128

India's Test batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara cannot wait to get on the field for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand.

Team India will be donning the retro jersey in the WTC final against New Zealand slated to get underway from June 18. Pujara on Saturday shared a picture of the new jersey on his Instagram story and he captioned the post as: "The new kit is here! Can't wait to get on the field! #worldtestchampionship." Earlier in the day, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja shared the photo on Twitter donning the new jersey.

The Indian cricketers might be in quarantine ahead of the UK tour, but they are sweating it out in the gym to ensure they are fit and ready to go once they get out of quarantine in England ahead of the WTC final in Southampton.

The BCCI has also ensured that the cricketers will get their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines in England under the guidance of the UK health department.

"The team has already taken the first dose here after the government opened the vaccination process for all above 18. The second dose will be administered by the UK health department once the players are eligible to get the second jab as per rules," BCCI sources had told ANI.

The BCCI made a foolproof plan for the national team before they depart for the UK and arrangements were made for all the players to undergo three RT-PCR tests before assembling in Mumbai on May 19.

After completing the two-week quarantine in Mumbai, the team will undergo another 10-day quarantine in the UK. The second period will see them first undergo a hard quarantine before they take the field to train for the WTC final against New Zealand in Southampton, starting June 18.

The New Zealand team are already in the UK ahead of their bilateral series against England and the team will transition from the ECB bio-secure environment into the WTC final bubble on 15 June and will be subject to regular testing prior to and post-arrival in Southampton.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
yjT7dCr7RAiUGxuPhNND_image%20%2823%29.jpg


50 for him and Playing a match-winning knock along with Sharma at the moment.
 
Cheteshwar Pujara in the Test series against South Africa: 124 runs in 6 innings
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔹 6764 runs in 100 international matches 🏏<br>🔹 18 centuries and 32 fifties 👏 <br><br>Happy birthday to India stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara 🎂 <a href="https://t.co/WZv8Oe0NEg">pic.twitter.com/WZv8Oe0NEg</a></p>— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1485922942861156359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Reckon India will give him the series against Sri Lanka to save his career, although he probably doesn't deserve it given his record since the tour to Australia.
 
Should be dropped. No major away series coming in recent times so try youngsters like Gill and Vihari.
 
Travis Head is to be replaced by Cheteshwar Pujara as overseas batter for the County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup competition.

Following a request by Travis to be released from his contract due to increased international commitments along with the news that he and his partner are expecting their first child, the club have agreed to this and replaced him with Cheteshwar Pujara for the majority of the 2022 season. Pujara will arrive in time for the first Championship match of the season and remain until at least the end of the RL50 competition.

On announcing that he had signed for the club Cheteshwar said, “I am excited and honoured to be a part of the historic Sussex County Cricket Club for the upcoming season. I do look forward to joining up with the Sussex family soon and be a part of its rich cricketing history. Over the years I have always enjoyed my time in the UK playing county cricket, so eagerly looking forward to the new stint and hope to contribute to the club’s success.”

We are delighted to welcome such an experienced international top order batter to the squad and look forward to his contribution both with the bat and in helping our younger top order batters continue their development in first class cricket.

We are sorry Travis will not be joining us and wish him all the best with his international commitments and congratulate him and his partner Jessica on their news.

Explaining his decision, Travis said, “I would like to stress that it’s important for me to support Jessica over the Australian winter while balancing a busy international schedule. It comes with disappointment during a very exciting period for me personally that I won’t be returning this season, I’ve built some great relationships and was very excited for it. I’m hopeful I can still have an impact at the club in the future and I will be watching the season very closely. I wish everyone all the best and thank you for the support.”

A new Championship Captain will be announced in due course, prior to the start of the season.

Following the re-arrangement of the Pakistan v West Indies one day series for early June we expect to have Mohammad Rizwan for the early part of the Championship season and at least eight of the Blast group games. He will arrive from the current Pakistan v Australia test series in time for the second round of the Championship staring on 14th April. To ensure we have the strongest squad available for the remaining Blast matches and Championship matches during this period we have signed Australian batter/keeper Josh Philippe.

The Sydney Sixers star said on signing for Sussex, “I am delighted to be joining Sussex for the T20 Blast and the County Championship. The opportunity to play in England with a young and talented Sussex squad is something I am really looking forward to.”

We also have the world’s number one T20 bowler Rashid Khan returning for another T20 Blast season at Hove. Subject to how far his IPL franchise team go in this year’s tournament we expect to have Rashid available for much of the Blast including the knockout out stages at the end of the competition, should we progress from the group stages.

Keith Greenfield, Performance Director said, “Considering the constantly changing schedules of overseas players and tours, the quality of international players we have secured to represent the club across all formats is very exciting for all involved.”

https://sussexcricket.co.uk/news/pujara-and-philippe-sign-sussex
 
192* for Pujara as Sussex looking safe for a draw
 
Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara ended his 52-innings century drought in First-Class cricket with a sensational and record-breaking 201 for Sussex on Sunday in the ongoing County Championship against Derbyshire. And with the big knock that helped his team eke out a draw, Pujara scripted a massive Indian record and broke a staggering Asian record as well.

Pujara became only the second Indian after Mohammad Azharuddin to score a double century in the County Championship. The former India skipper, who had achieved the feat twice, had scored a ravishing 212 against Leicestershire in 1991 and 205 against Durham in 1994 and both his knocks were for Derbyshire. Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi had four such scores to his name, but came while he was cricketer for the English team.

This was Pujara's first century in First-Class cricket after 52 innings. His last came against Karnataka in January 2020 when he had scored 248. In between the two big scores, Pujara managed 1518 runs at 30.36 with 14 fifties.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...ering-first-class-record-101650259404834.html
 
Good for Pujara, he might still not make it back to the Test side but again at least he is trying. I would have preferred Virat doing the same as well. I know that Pujara has no choice considering he doesn't get picked in IPL but if Virat wants to resurrect his Test career, he needs to play a few FC games.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cheteshwar Pujara reaches his second century for <a href="https://twitter.com/SussexCCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SussexCCC</a> &#55357;&#56399;<br><br>Watch him bat LIVE &#55357;&#56393; <a href="https://t.co/G3sCdZsFd3">https://t.co/G3sCdZsFd3</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVCountyChamp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVCountyChamp</a> <a href="https://t.co/6OzFRvlS0n">pic.twitter.com/6OzFRvlS0n</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1517814804483825664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A gem of a delivery from Dillon Pennington to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara &#55357;&#56396;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CountyCricket2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CountyCricket2022</a><a href="https://t.co/GMZWx05GKG">pic.twitter.com/GMZWx05GKG</a></p>— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/WisdenCricket/status/1517862563094089728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Currently not out 128.

Brilliant batting from Pujara.
 
Pujara trying to make a comeback by performing in County while Rahane warming up bench for KKR in India.
 
Saj said:
Currently not out 128.

Brilliant batting from Pujara.
Click to expand...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/Gf4hCUfytb">pic.twitter.com/Gf4hCUfytb</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1520071722640318465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Pujara might have just ensured that he will be part of playing XI this summer for the only test in England.

1. only player to have played any first class cricket, while our superstars are busy playing IPL and T20
2. not only has Pujara played first class in England, he is scoring bucketful of runs

It would be stupid to leave him out now, especially if he carries this form for the rest of the summer
 
Not sure who will be dropped if Pujara makes a comeback? Vihari or Shreyas??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

The Bald Eagle
Indian current triumphs are just a House of Cards like the US fiat money infront of the Gold Standard
2 3
Replies
178
Views
8K
rpant_gabba
rpant_gabba
MenInG
The Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy: Significance?
Replies
50
Views
2K
The Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle
Savak
Does any existing frontline Pakistani pacer have Mohammad Siraj's relentless passion?
2
Replies
102
Views
2K
RizwanT20Champ
R
Cricket Warrior
Former Indian cricketer Dilip Doshi passes away at 77
Replies
6
Views
329
Cryin Out Loud
C
Hitman
Ricky Ponting would have punched Akash Deep had India pacer given him a Ben Duckett-like send-off
Replies
46
Views
973
RedwoodOriginal
RedwoodOriginal
Back
Top