Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Cheteshwar Pujara set to hitch elite listing of Indians with 100 Tests

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Cheteshwar Pujara is ready to play his a centesimal Test towards Australia in Delhi on Friday. Incidentally, he had additionally made his Test debut towards the Australians.

New Delhi ,UPDATED: Feb 14, 2023 14:37 IST

Cheteshwar Pujara is more likely to play his a centesimal Test on Feb 17 towards Australia. (AP/PTI Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Cheteshwar Pujara will be a part of an elite listing of India cricketers when he takes the sector for the second Test towards Australia in Delhi on February 17.

Cheteshwar Pujara will turn into the thirteenth India cricketer to play 100 Test matches. Ironically, this landmark is ready to be achieved towards Australia, an opposition he has typically floor to the mud prior to now. Pujara will solely be the second cricketer within the present workforce to play 100 Tests. Virat Kohli had performed his a centesimal towards Sri Lanka in Mohali in March 2022.

Incidentally, Pujara had made his Test debut towards Australia again in 2010 in Bengaluru and gave quick discover of what was to come back over the following decade. In the second innings of his debut Test, Pujara was promoted to No.3 forward of Rahul Dravid, and scored a fluent 72 as India chased down 207 to win the sequence 2-0.

Since his scintillating debut, Cheteshwar Pujara performed 20 extra Test matches towards Australia and immediately, boasts of an impressive report towards India’s fiercest rivals within the Test area.

In 21 matches versus Australia, Pujara has 1900 runs at a median of 52.77 together with 5 tons of and 10 fifties.

On India’s tour of Australia in 2018-19, Cheteshwar Pujara was the topped the batting charts with 521 runs in 4 Test matches as India went on to win their first ever Test sequence in that nation. Two years later, Pujara didn’t rating as many runs however copped a number of physique blows in among the gutsiest innings in Test cricket within the fashionable period as India gained their second consecutive Test sequence in Australia.

Overall, Cheteshwar Pujara has an impressive report in 99 Tests, having scored 7021 runs at 44.15 with the assistance of 19 tons of and 34 half-centuries.

Cheteshwar Pujara is just not the everyday new-age cricketer. He has been dropped from the Test workforce prior to now for his strike-rate points and one typically wonders whether or not he might have scored extra rapidly in an age the place Test matches are dictated by batters who’re extra aggressive within the center.

However, Pujara has sought to alter his recreation and strategy. In Bangladesh late final 12 months, Pujara hit his quickest Test hundred; in Nagpur, he bought out cheaply however there have been indicators of a batter who needed to dominate early.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had been dropped from the workforce after India misplaced a Test sequence in South Africa regardless of taking a 1-0 lead. While Rahane continues to sit down out within the chilly, it was inconceivable for the workforce administration to miss Pujara who made a profitable return to the Test facet for the rescheduled match towards England in Birmingham.

Since his return to the facet, Cheteshwar Pujara has proven extra intent. After a second innings 66 in Birmingham, Pujara scored 90 and 102 not within the first Test towards Bangladesh earlier than a failure in Nagpur.

Cheteshwar Pujara will likely be a key participant as India look to proceed their domination over Australia and the workforce would hope for a particular effort from their No.3 in his landmark match.

Published On:

Feb 14, 2023