Cheteshwar Pujara brought out his piece de resistance as he kept India in the hunt in the Southampton Test as well as the series – with his brilliant unconquered 132. Thus, Pujara scored almost 50% of India’s runs (273) to give them a lead of 27 runs.
In fact, Cheteshwar Pujara is not someone who makes spectators sit at the edge of their seat. He is not someone who is a treat to the eyes and definitely not someone who makes the fans say, “wow that is some shot”. Thus, he is not the cynosure of all eyes. Nevertheless, he got runs when it mattered the most for India.
However, he came with a rescuing ship when India was sinking deep. Consequently, Pujara was able to keep India floating in the series, as he gave a life-saving jacket to the tottering Indian batting. It was a typical start to Pujara’s innings. He blocked like a rock and he left the ball knowing where his off stump was.
Pujara is not someone who goes for the flamboyant drives or extravagant cuts in the young minutes of his innings. He is someone who lays down the foundation first and then likes to build his structure. The right-hander makes sure he places his bricks carefully at the right place and he wants to put the right amount of cement in his innings.
There he was again when the Indian batsmen were digging their own grave, as they gifted wickets by poor shot selection, whereas, he was putting up the strong pillars for his innings. However, Pujara stuck to his own plans, as he knew no other way to help his team. He knew he had to fight hard in these thundering conditions. Consequently, he acted as a perfect helmsman who guided India’s ship to the shore.
India slipped from 142-2 to 195-8, thereby losing five wickets for just 53 runs. Pujara was haplessly noticing the collapse from the other end. Thus, India went from a dominating position to despair, as once again the batting demons returned and haunted the tourists. The visitors could have enjoyed a healthy lead. However, they were in arrears by 51 runs and had only two wickets left.
Subsequently, Pujara found the much-needed support from Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. India’s number three put together the invaluable alliance of 32 runs with the lanky fast bowler. Furthermore, he added another 46 runs with Jasprit Bumrah to help the tourists put their noses in front slightly.
In the process, the right-hander brought his unseen game from the closet that was never witnessed before. India’s number three played lofted shots while shimming down the track to the spinners, drove ferociously and tried to run like Usain Bolt between the wickets. Yes, it was a surreal feeling. He scored his first century on the English soil and in fact, his second outside the Asian conditions.
In fact, there were talks about Pujara’s place in the Test team. His intent of scoring runs was questioned and he even had to be the prey of the poor selection brain – as he got dropped from the first Test. It was evident there was a mountain of pressure put on his shoulders.
Pujara was trying to score his runs at a brisk pace and it was never going to work out. You cannot mold a player’s technique overnight who has built up his fort while playing conventionally. In fact, tinkering with his technique and asking him to play aggressively was like asking a fish to live without water. It was never going to work out.
Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara earns his runs like a laborer makes the ends meet. Runs are not a luxury for him and he has always worked hard for them. His shots are not always well-timed or his boundaries are not generally thwarted into the ropes.
However, he knows his limitations and more importantly he knows his strengths. Consequently, he tries to catapult his attack on the bad balls, whereas, he tries to keep the good ones at bay. Furthermore, he doesn’t flirt to hit the ball in the air. In fact, the right-hander is always happy with his romance of blocking.
He is one of those rare species who are on the verge of extinction in the dominance of the T20 world. Thus, he follows the conventional Test cricket sense and has reaped fruits for his hard work. He has worked behind the scenes and would often hit his Father’s academy while he not on national duty.
It was a brilliant knock from the most hardworking guy in the Indian team who led his team off the ground while taking the honors.