In the era of aggressive cricket. A strike rate below slightly 100 may be the reason for a player not making it in the playing XI. Thanks to Test cricket we still need players who leave the ball outside off with ease. India’s Cheteswar Pujara fits the description of a perfect Test batsman, his recent performance against Australia’s deadly bouncers was lauded by cricket pundits. Despite hit on helmet and gloves several times. Pujara stood strong and guided India to a historical win. As Pujara turns 33 today, let’s us know why what makes him India’s first choice at no.3.
In Test cricket spending time at the crease is more pertinent than scoring quick runs. Pujara’s composure has helped him to rise at the top. A phlegmatic batsman with an ability to play circumstances and later score runs as he settles in. Pujara has played 81 Test matches for India and scored 6111 runs with an average of 47.74.
In 2017, Pujara went on to play the longest Test innings in terms of balls by an Indian. He faced 525 balls to score 202 in the Ranchi Test against Australia. The 33-year-old is holds another record of facing the most balls against the Aussies in Test cricket. in the past decade. Pujara has faced as many as 3609 in just 28 innings. England’s Joe Root was second in the list. Root in his 46 innings has faced 3607 balls against Australia.
Though, Pujara was not among the highest run-getters in Border-Gavaskar series 2020. 928 is the number of balls he faced the most by any batsman. Pujara’s ability to spend time at the crease played a vital role in India’s 2-1 win. In fourth innings at Sydney and Brisbane, he faced 205 and 211 balls respectively.
