WTC Final: 5 slowest knocks played by Cheteshwar Pujara in Test cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara is currently one of the best Test batsmen in the world. The Saurashtra-based batsman has made a name for himself with his solid defensive technique that has helped him achieve a lot of success in the longest format of the game.

So far, Pujara has scored 6,244 runs for India in 85 Tests. His batting average is 46.59 with his highest score being 206*. While Pujara's numbers in Test cricket are excellent, his strike rate has sometimes been a matter of concern.

Generally, batsmen play defensively in Test cricket, but there was a time when the Indian team management dropped Cheteshwar Pujara from the team because of his slow strike rate.

While Pujara's overall Test career strike rate is less than 45, he scored eight runs off 54 balls at a strike rate of 14 in the first innings of the ongoing WTC Final against New Zealand.

Pujara's skill at playing dot balls has helped India in many matches, but there have been a few occasions where his slow batting has impacted India's momentum.

On that note, let's have a look at the five innings of Pujara's Test career where his strike rate was the lowest.

(Please Note: This list considers the innings where Cheteshwar Pujara scored at least ten runs.)

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#5 16 (67) vs West Indies, 2016

North Sound hosted the first Test of India's 2016 tour of West Indies, where the visitors won the toss and opted to bat first. Shikhar Dhawan provided a solid start to the team, but his opening partner Murali Vijay departed in the seventh over.

Cheteshwar Pujara then joined him in the middle. Both batsmen played cautiously for a few overs. There was no boundary from the bat in the first 17 overs of this partnership. While Dhawan switched gears after settling in the middle, Pujara lost his wicket before he could accelerate.

Pujara scored 16 runs off 66 balls before Devendra Bishoo dismissed him on the 67th ball of his knock. His strike rate in that innings was 23.88.

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#4 Cheteshwar Pujara's slowest Test knock in Australia - 24 (103), 2018

Big wicket, India's Adelaide Test hero Cheteshwar Pujara caught behind down the leg-side off Mitchell Starc for 24 off 103 balls, India 3-82 in reply AUS 326 with Virat Kohli at the crease on 43. #AUSvIND

— Robert Smith (@OnyaDon) December 15, 2018

Perth hosted the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2018/19. Australia batted first and scored 326 runs in the first innings. The hosts played at a run rate of close to three runs per over.

India got off to a terrible start as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood reduced the visitors to 8/2 in 5.1 overs. Cheteshwar Pujara then came to the team's rescue. He did not allow Australia to take more wickets.

Pujara frustrated the Aussies by playing dot balls in the middle and scored only one boundary in his 103-ball knock. Eventually, he was dismissed by Starc after being caught behind in the 39th over of the match. Pujara scored 24 runs in that innings at a strike rate of 23.30.

#3 17 (87) vs England, 2018

India lost the 2018 Test series against England by 1-4. While Virat Kohli was the top performer for India in that series, Cheteshwar Pujara was the third-highest run-getter with 278 runs in four Tests.

Pujara did not get a place in the playing XI for the first Test, but after India's defeat, the team management included him in the second Test. The right-handed batsman was not at his best in the second Test played at Lord's.

After managing just a solitary run in the first innings, Pujara scored 17 runs from 87 balls in the second innings, with his strike rate being 19.54. Still, India backed him and that decision paid off as Pujara went on to score 260 runs in the next three Tests.

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#2 10 (56) vs South Africa, 2010

Cheteshwar Pujara in 2010

Cheteshwar Pujara was not so experienced when the Indian team management named him in the Test squad for the 2010 South African tour. It was his first overseas tour, and as expected, Pujara could not score big in the series.

His aggregate in the two Tests against South Africa was 31, with his highest score being 19. During that tour, Pujara played one of the slowest knocks of his Test career.

Playing in the second innings of the second Test, Cheteshwar Pujara scored ten runs off 56 balls at a strike rate of 17.85. He had a 47-run stand with VVS Laxman for the fourth wicket. Interestingly, Pujara hit a boundary in that knock, meaning he scored just six runs off the other 55 balls.

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#1 Cheteshwar Pujara's slowest Test knock - 11 (81) vs New Zealand, 2020

Big error in judgement costs Cheteshwar Pujara dear!He leaves one that is angled in from Trent Boult from round the wicket and hears it crash into his off-stump to depart for 11 off 81 balls. That brings up tea in Wellington.#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/oWS31s7EcO

— ICC (@ICC) February 23, 2020

Cheteshwar Pujara's 11-run knock against New Zealand in Wellington last year was his slowest when one considers all the innings where he has scored at least ten runs.

The Blackcaps took a 183-run first-innings lead against India. In the second innings, the visitors lost Prithvi Shaw's wicket in the eighth over. Cheteshwar Pujara then joined Mayank Agarwal in the middle.

Agarwal timed the ball well in that innings and ended with 58 runs from 99 balls. Meanwhile, Cheteshwar decided to play with a defensive approach as he did not smash a single boundary in his 81-ball knock. Pujara scored 11 runs at a strike rate of 13.58 before Trent Boult rattled his stumps.