Consider the word “No.” 3 in Indian cricket, and only Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara come to mind. Dravid and Pujara.
Both champions in their respective eras are the only players to have played at that batting position in more Test matches than anyone else.
Consider the word “No.” 3 in Indian cricket, and only Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara come to mind.
Dravid and Pujara, both champions in their respective eras, are the only players to have played at that batting position in more Test matches than anyone else.
While Gautam Gambhir, Navjot Sidhu, Virat Kohli, and VVS Laxman have all attempted to secure that top spot in the batting order, no one in Test cricket has done so more successfully than Dravid and Pujara.
Therefore, it was appropriate that Pujara, a chip off the old block, was given that responsibility when the formidable Wall of Indian cricket retired.
11 years later, he is about to play his 100th Test, batting at No. 95% of the time for India. third position
Pujara has batted at No. 1 in 169 of his innings.
3 was used a total of 148 times, resulting in 6355 runs scored at an average of 45.07 Ravi Shastri, who was India’s head coach and worked closely with Pujara, paid a huge tribute to the great man as he reached an incredible career milestone.
Shastri highlighted the one quality of the 34-year-old that he believes sets him apart from the rest while lavishing Pujara with praise.
“His ability to hold onto that No. 3 position for such a long time is what makes his contribution to Indian cricket. Rahul Dravid had big shoes to fill when he finished.
It is a testament to his abilities, quality, and skill that he has held that position for more than a decade and 100 tests. Yes, after Dravid retired, he owned that property.
Before figuring out what a No. 3 should do, one needs to see the conditions. The strategy will be different for each situation and each condition.
Shastri told Cricbuzz, “For someone to last that long and play 100 Test matches is ample evidence that he has been doing most things right.”
Even though Shastri sometimes lost patience with Pujara because of the speed at which he scored runs. The batter stood out from his peers because of his stubbornness and determination.
Think about those three centuries he scored in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2018/19, as well as his fighting 132 not out against England.
Where he fought alone. Pujara has excelled against both pace and spin. Pujara’s career went through a time when he was having problems outside the arena. But he came back stronger and more determined than ever.
He has played a lot of domestic cricket, so he is a good batsman against spin bowling. It is a proven quality for someone who has played 100 Test matches.
He has runs in South Africa, England, Australia, the West Indies, and South Africa. He has runs in every country. What else would you like? In a recent Test in Bangladesh (December of last year in
Chattogram), he scored 100 and 90. You must be thinking back to the damage that the spinners did to us in Bangladesh. Shastri added, “He got runs everywhere.”
Shastri has a vivid memory of Pujara’s numerous blows to the body while India fought to save the Sydney Test.
Both innings of the Test match saw Pujara score half-centuries. 50 and 77, but the latter score became legendary in Indian cricket.
In order to prevent India from losing, Pujara was hit in the helmet and rapped on his gloves. Subjected to bullet-like deliveries from Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc.
He almost put himself in the line of fire. Shastri is very proud of Pujara’s character because he is the only Indian cricketer to score a century in a Test match.
He is a warrior, as I said then and as I say now. He is my soldier, as I had stated following the Gabba Test. He can fight.
Pujara played a significant role in India’s two series victories in Australia, which set a new record. Massive.
He operates quietly but can be deadly when necessary. He is a true professional who has contributed greatly to Indian cricket.
Shastri congratulated Pujara while praising him, “Many congratulations to him on the 100th Test.”