Cheteshwar Pujara, who is a vital cog for India in the coming four-match Test series against Australia, has last played international cricket in February. After which, he featured in the finale of Ranji Trophy 2019-20 for Saurashtra in early March. Due to an outbreak of coronavirus after eight months of the gap, the right-hand batsman played a first first-class cricket in form of the warm-up game against Australia A ahead of the marquee series.
A long hiatus from the game might be a cause of concern for Cheteshwar Pujara to get at his best. VVS Laxman also is of the same view, stating that the Saurashtra batsman might require some time in the middle to get back to his formal self.
“It might definitely take time for Pujara to get his rhythm back,” VVS Laxman said in the recent episode of the Star Sports show Game Plan.
Preparation has always been Pujara’s strength: VVS Laxman
However, VVS Laxman believes that Cheteshwar Pujara would have been preparing at home to get match ready even during the lockdown. He added that it doesn’t make much difference whether Pujara has played or not because he has a dogged mindset.
“But knowing Pujara, he will go with full preparation. Even though he has not played since March, he would have definitely been practicing in Rajkot. Even in the lockdown, he would have been going to his own ground and practicing because preparation has always been Pujara’s strength.”
“Pujara will be very happy to bat 15 out of the 20 days of Test cricket ahead of us, no question about it. So, whether he has played cricket or not, I don’t think is going to make any difference because he is so strong mentally,” VVS Laxman added.
The former Indian veteran signed off by pointing out that Pujara loves to tire the opposition bowlers and has also added some attacking strokes in his repertoire.
“He loves batting, he loves being at the crease, he loves wearing the bowlers down. In the last two years or so, he has also improved his range of strokes,” VVS Laxman said.
Cheteshwar Pujara was adjudged player of the series in the last tour as he scored 521 runs in four matches at an average of 74.42.