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Batting Ka Pujara


By Gaurang
March 6 2013

Cheteshwar Pujara, India's new batting sensation, is a devotee of the art of Test match batting.  He is already following in the footsteps of a past Master, Sunil Gavaskar, whom he equalled when he scored his 1000th Test run in only his 11th Test match, the fastest in terms of Tests played by an Indian, and he looks set for the long haul.

The first thing you notice about Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease is his relaxed upright stance, classically orthodox, and pleasing to the eye.  What follows when the ball is delivered is more of the same, copy book technique, in both defense and offense with impeccable footwork.   The next thing you notice is that he plays with a very straight bat when the ball is full and if it is short he uses the horizontal bat to both cut and hook/pull in a very traditional manner.  The latter stroke has resulted in his downfall a couple of times, but he should not put it away, just hone it as to when to use it.  He is the complete package as far as stroke making ability is concerned.

Another aspect of his batting that thrills the tradionalist is that without appearing to belabor the ball or give it an almighty whack, he seems to find the fence quite regularly.  The great VVS Laxman in the commentary box was gushing about the way most of his forceful shots seemed to find the gaps.  Something that VVS modestly didn't say was that it reminded him of himself, but the implication was clear, here was a true Test match batsman who knows what it is to conceive, organize and go about building Test match innings.  And he has had lots of practice for that role.  It is a very interesting bit of trivia that he has scored triple hundreds at all levels of the longer game, from U-14, to U-19 to U-22 to First Class levels.  The only remaining level where this milestone has not yet been reached is the Test match level.  With two double centuries in his first 11 Test matches, he has clearly shown that he will not lack for opportunities to do just that in the future. 

It is amazing how quickly talent spots talent.  Back in 2008 or so, Sunil Gavaskar was already raving about Pujara, calling him a "Lambi Race Ka Ghoda", i.e. one who looks to be good for the long run.  And how true Sunny has proven.  The next challenge for Pujara will be to succeed overseas.  His runs have all come at home, but looking at the way he seems unpeturbed by pace or bounce, except for that impetuous tendency to hook sometimes, he should be able to rise to that challenge as well.  If he does, India will truly have unearthed a worthy replacement for the legendary Rahul Dravid, and the No. 3 spot in the batting line up looks safe for many years to come, in the a hands of a true batting ka Pujara.

 

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Batting Ka Pujara
Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 06/03/2013 18:34
Indian Cricket Fever
Indian Cricket Fever
06/03/2013 18:34
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:03:21:18:26:28 by Birbal.

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
06/03/2013 18:40
Spirit, can you find a good pic of Pujara and edit the article by replacing the pic with that one?. Thx.

shilpa
shilpa
06/03/2013 18:41
mabe he will be a la Kambli FTB.....we'll reserve our judgements until he plays a couple of series overseas

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
06/03/2013 19:00
I do say, that he needs to be tested overseas...

However he did well in West Indies when he helped India win a match with 50 and 96 not out...

See:

[www.cricketarchive.com]

Atul
Atul
06/03/2013 22:28
as a captain advised Pujara , Enjoy the present. too much critics/tv channel makes your home achievements nothing unless you perform in the outside subcontinents. Last month he married to Pooja and officially become Pujari smiling smiley so keep doing your puja to cricket and puja.

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
06/03/2013 22:50
Nice to know his wife's name will now be Puja Pujara...smiling smiley

MESSAGES->author
Spirit of Cricket
07/03/2013 12:43
Funny when he said his new wife was watching so he had to "perform" smiling smiley

He has an appetite for runs which is good, but let's wait and see if he can evolve abroad. But he does fill an important gap.

Akbar
Akbar
08/03/2013 16:49
More power to Pujara!

thirdman
thirdman
18/03/2013 06:11
His real worth will be proved in SA, Oz, Eng, and NZ. Hopefully he is not a FTB like Sehwag.

shilpa
shilpa
18/03/2013 09:39
Quote:
thirdman
His real worth will be proved in SA, Oz, Eng, and NZ. Hopefully he is not a FTB like Sehwag.

performances at home should not be discounted...and are as imporant as overseas performances

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
24/03/2013 20:10
What an assured innings on a difficult pitch... brilliant again by Pujara...

I remember the English press were calling Trott the best since Bradman when he averaged over 60 in his first 20 or so Tests... Well so is Pujara...but don't expect the Indian press to BIG him up like that...smiling smiley

MESSAGES->author
round rock
27/03/2013 09:07
he looks more like amla. great technique and scores many boundaries. quality batsman.

amla has also excelled in ODIs as opener. no need for pujara to play ODIs yet. may be after 2-3 years when he would have become more complete

shilpa
shilpa
27/03/2013 09:12
Pujara will be in champions Trophy side......undoubtedly...
The english will make seaming ptiches under the assumption that that will filter out subcontinental sides

So Pujara will be called into the ODI side.

actually Dhawan's game is ideally suited for ODis....so as soon as he is fit...he will be back as might be Murali Vijay.

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
20/12/2013 15:26
Bump...

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
25/12/2013 21:13
[quote thirdman]His real worth will be proved in SA, Oz, Eng, and NZ. Hopefully he is not a FTB like Sehwag.[/quot

His game is very different to Sehwag's, so always had a chance to be successful in conditions where the ball did a bit...

Was worried about his temperament...but now that can be put away too...

thirdman
thirdman
28/12/2013 19:07
I rooted for Chet Puajara ever since he showed promise in Ranji. He has never let us down. Solid technique. No issues against good spin or genuine pace at home or abroad. This guy will have a career that ends in n avg in the 50's.

bhagatghavri
bhagatghavri
16/05/2014 05:38
Pujara has used every available opportunity to drive home the point that he can bat more freely in one day and T20 cricket. But the skill sets required in test. Pujara has successfully carried the reputation of making long scores even into test cricket in his young career. But I sure that he have talent and potential to play in all formats.

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
08/06/2014 01:48
Well he didn't click in T20... but no matter... he will hopefully be WALL v. 2.0 in upcoming England Test series...and give the solid foundation to Indian Innings more often than not..

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
13/09/2016 15:17
Bump...

He

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
16/09/2016 19:34
Just reached 10,000 FC runs and also 10th First Class double century... in the Duleep Trophy finals for 2016-17...

With a huge home season ahead...he should be THE no. 3 in the batting line up...

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
18/03/2017 16:57
This man is the ZEN MASTER of batting.... wow...what a knock in Ranchi...

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
04/08/2017 17:39
Back to back hundreds to set India up again in Colombo...

However, I do think he is not as swift of foot as Dravid and will probably face a tough time overseas in seaming conditions...

Interesting to note that only 17 of his 50 Tests are outside India and subcontinent...and his average there is 29.51...with one century and two fifties in 29 innings...

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
06/12/2018 20:43
Bump for you Max.

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
06/12/2018 20:46
His stance has become a bit more crouching. But still the same amount of grit and zen master like concentration

Max_Admin
Max
07/12/2018 11:16
Quote:
Birbal
His stance has become a bit more crouching. But still the same amount of grit and zen master like concentration

Well said Birbal.

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
03/01/2019 15:32
Now back to back hundreds at MCG and SCG... WOW!!! He is a Devotee of Test batting no doubt



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:03:15:44:52 by Birbal.

Akbar
Akbar
14/01/2019 02:01
He seemed very comfortable against Australia in their den. Sign of a great batsman.
He was able to bat as per his wishes - whenever he wanted he accelerated.

MESSAGES->author
Birbal
17/11/2019 15:36
Now Mayank Agarwal is chasing the quickest to 1000 runs by an Indian

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