Murali Vijay-Cheteshwar Pujara - A pair made in heaven
Vijay-Pujara pair: A bowler's nightmare
Partnerships not only put the skids under oppositions, but also engineer a launch-pad for accelerating the team to a decent total. Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay are exactly doing the same for the last seven years. As individuals, they already have become stalwarts in the Test team. As a pair, they have been nightmares for their rivals.
Vijay and Pujara boast of the highest partnership average among Indian pairs who have notched up 2000 runs or more in Test cricket. During the 1st Test versus England at Rajkot, the duo overhauled the 2000 run mark, paving their way into the elite list. At the end of Day two of the 4th Test at Mumbai, the average has shot up to 66.20.
Below is a list of legendary Indian partnerships with 2000 runs or more and their averages.
| Sl No | Partners | Innings | Runs | Average | 50’s | 100’s | Best | Conversion Rate |
| 1 | Murali Vijay- Cheteshwar Pujara | 35 | 2251 | 66.20 | 9 | 7 | 370 | 43.75 |
| 2 | Sourav Ganguly- Sachin Tendulkar | 71 | 4173 | 61.36 | 16 | 12 | 281 | 42.86 |
| 3 | Virender Sehwag- Rahul Dravid | 60 | 3405 | 58.70 | 11 | 10 | 410 | 47.62 |
| 4 | Md Azharuddin- Sachin Tendulkar | 42 | 2385 | 58.17 | 5 | 9 | 222 | 64.29 |
| 5 | Mohinder Amarnath- Sunil Gavaskar | 44 | 2366 | 55.02 | 7 | 10 | 224 | 58.82 |
The second will tell about where does the duo ranks among all pairs in Test cricket
| Sl No | Partners | Innings | Runs | Average | 50’s | 100’s | Highest | Conversion Rate |
| 1 | Javed Miandad- Shoaib Mohammad | 23 | 2112 | 91.82 | 7 | 8 | 248 | 53.33 |
| 2 | Jack Hobbs- Herbert Sutcliffe | 39 | 3339 | 87.86 | 11 | 15 | 283 | 57.69 |
| 3 | Justin Langer- Ricky Ponting | 48 | 3451 | 82.16 | 12 | 14 | 327 | 53.85 |
| 4 | Md Yousuf- Younis Khan | 42 | 3137 | 78.42 | 12 | 9 | 363 | 42.86 |
| 5 | A.B de Villiers- Jacques Kallis | 44 | 3108 | 75.80 | 7 | 13 | 256 | 65.00 |
| 12 | Murali Vijay- Cheteshwar Pujara | 35 | 2251 | 66.20 | 9 | 7 | 370 | 43.75 |
Albeit, they are the least experienced pair in the list, the duo has piled on runs for their team and agony for oppositions. The figures are evident manifestations of their escalating maturity over the period since they started batting together as a pair.
New batsmen are fidgety enough to get dismissed, but once they settle down, it’s equivalent to playing catch-up for the rivals, especially if the batsmen are Pujara and Vijay. The task becomes that much more perturbing for the bowlers if they are making hay together.
The fact that their percentage of converting 50-run stands into three-figure stands is 43.75 makes them that much more ominous for oppositions. Their 370 runs stand against Australia at Hyderabad in 2013, recording the 2nd highest partnership for India in Test cricket won’t be fading away from the memories in a canter.
Pujara and Vijay can be classified as two peas in a pod, considering their temperament and ability to grind down the bowlers. Opening the batting demands taking the sheen of the leather and Vijay has lived up to the mantle quite meticulously. Pujara also has taken the responsibility of the new ball when India suffers an early jolt.
When it’s about playing in unfamiliar territories, every small intricacy is scrutinised. Vijay and Pujara have been involved in partnerships since 2010 and while they have hit their straps right from the word go on sub-continent turfs, it’s necessary to compare them against their shows in Australia, South Africa, New zealand and England.
Pujara and Vijay batting in India
The pair of Vijay and Pujara has piled on runs at will
In the sub-continent, the records are stupendous enough for the batting couple. Their batting average shoots up to a staggering 81.72 with a conversion rate of 62.50. Australia and England, exasperated by the pair, always wished for the demise of the partnership. Against them, the pair musters a century run stand in every match, when we take the average into account.
The duo recently piled on their 2nd double century stand against New Zealand at Rajkot, becoming only the second pair after Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag to have two 200-runs stand in their kitty. Against England and New Zealand, they have made sure that they convert their half-century stand to a substantial one.
Though the average of 56 against the Proteas looks respectable, the duo wasn’t quite at their very best. They racked up a couple of 50-run stands only to be halted before the three-figure mark, which is a rarity for them in India.
Against the Caribbean, the pair weren’t quite at home with partnerships of 0 and 15 in the couple of innings they played against them at home. In a nutshell, they have lived up to expectations and bowling to the pair won’t get any easier in the upcoming matches.
Australia will be touring India in a couple of months time and if Pujara and Vijay’s stand can’t be penetrated through, menacing signs will be in store for the Kangaroos to say the least.
| Country | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | 50’s | 100’s | Highest | Conversion Rate |
| India | 18 | 19 | 1471 | 81.72 | 3 | 5 | 370 | 62.50 |
| versus Australia | 5 | 6 | 614 | 102.33 | 1 | 2 | 370 | 66.67 |
| versus England | 4 | 4 | 379 | 126.33 | 0 | 2 | 209 | 100.00 |
| versus New Zealand | 3 | 4 | 295 | 73.75 | 0 | 2 | 133 | 100.00 |
| versus South Africa | 4 | 3 | 168 | 56.00 | 2 | 0 | 86 | 0.00 |
| versus West Indies | 2 | 2 | 15 | 7.50 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0.00 |
Pujara and Vijay batting in Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa
Even in overseas conditions, the pair didn't let loose their rigidity as a pair
Both Pujara and Vijay like the ball coming on to the bat and fancy playing cuts and pulls. Their preference for pacey and bouncy wickets is detectable from the statistics they have assembled in Australia and South Africa.
The 157 runs stand at Durban in 2013 against the likes of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis is one of their most astute stands on overseas decks. In England, the pair overhauled the 50 run mark three times in seven attempts, which is commendable on pitches where the ball deviates alarmingly off the turf.
The conversion rate is on the lower side, but that doesn’t take away the lustre of their superlative shows in alien conditions. Overall, apart from New Zealand, an average of 48.75 in 16 innings only throws light on the panache and flair this pair has demonstrated over the years in Test cricket
| Country | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | 50’s | 100’s | Highest | Conversion Rate |
| Australia | 3 | 4 | 219 | 54.75 | 2 | 0 | 81 | 0.00 |
| New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
| England | 5 | 7 | 325 | 46.43 | 3 | 0 | 91 | 0.00 |
| South Africa | 3 | 3 | 234 | 78.00 | 1 | 1 | 157 | 50.00 |
| Aggregate | 13 | 16 | 780 | 48.75 | 6 | 1 | 157 | 14.28 |
India are halfway through their schedule of 13 Test matches and the Pujara-Vijay stand has grown leaps and bounds to rip apart the strategies of the bowlers. In the eight innings this home season, they have haemorrhaged 674 runs at an average of 96.29 with as many as four 100 runs stands. With both batsmen in top form, the job is cut out for the bowlers in the remainder of the season.
All data provided above pertains to the end of play at Day 2 of the 4th Test between England and India