SK Player of the day: Cheteshwar Pujara for his mesmerizing performances in the ongoing Duleep Trophy
In the recently concluded India-West Indies test series, India’s No.3 in tests, Cheteshwar Pujara did not have the best of outings as he managed only 62 runs in two innings he played, averaging 31 and having a strike rate of 27.43. In his first innings in the opening test at North Sound, Pujara scored 16 off 67 deliveries which was followed by another patient knock of 46 off 159 deliveries in the second test at Kingston. With Murali Vijay returning back to full fitness and KL Rahul hitting a mammoth century in the second test match, the Saurashtra batsman was dropped from the squad for the next two test matches.
Pujara’s place in the test team came under scrutiny as a number of India’s batsmen had maintained a strike rate of above 50 during the series; even Amit Mishra had score his half-century in 68 deliveries. However, in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, Pujara has been in terrific form for his team India Blue. After India Blue’s match against India Red was drawn owing to rain, India Blue had to avoid defeat against the inactive India Green to keep their final hopes alive. Pujara’s lack of form with the bat finally came to an end as he scored a massive 166 off 280 deliveries against the India Green bowling, hitting 24 boundaries and by the time he got dismissed, India Blue were well settled at 542/6 and later were bowled out for 707.
Also read: Pujara's century drives India Blue to 362/3 in Duleep Trophy final
Pujara’s innings helped them draw the match and proceed to the ongoing final against India Red. Pujara has once again commandeered the batting and is currently standing at 111 off 164 deliveries, hitting 15 boundaries. Throughout the Duleep Trophy, the Saurashtra batsman hasn’t put a foot wrong so far. We have seen a totally different Pujara in the Duleep Trophy compared to the one we saw at the Caribbean as he has been scoring runs in a rather nonchalant manner. He hasn’t hit a six in the tournament so far but has been able to enhance his strike rate with his mesmerizing boundaries.
Pujara has found his much-needed groove in the Duleep Trophy and this should probably be enough to settle the debate on his position in the test side. Blessed with solid footwork and the ability to play long innings, Pujara has proven on a number of previous occasions that he should be India’s premier No.3 in test cricket. The role of a No.3 batsman in tests rotates around reliability and Pujara sure fits that definition. In an era where T20 has revolutionised the game, cricketers normally try to bring the T20 aggression into tests but on many a time, perish in an attempt to hit big strokes. During this time, a certain player is needed who can shoulder the batting responsibility and can help the team to a respectable total through a calm and composed innings. Even if Pujara can’t match the levels of aggression portrayed by Virat Kohli, he can sure score quick runs but in a rather sensible manner. Given his present form, Pujara totally deserves to be India’s first-choice at No.3 and if he can replicate his Duleep Trophy form for India more often, then India have surely found their new Rahul Dravid in test cricket.