Cheteshwar Pujara could hold the key for India, says Barry Richards

Richards praised Pujara for his composure

South African great Barry Richards feels Cheteshwar Pujara could be key for India in their upcoming Test series against the Proteas, Times of India reports. He also said the chances of South Africa’s success are pretty much dependent on the pitches on offer.

India are set to take on South Africa in four Test matches, their first matches in the longer format at home for more than two years. India recently won their first overseas Test series victory since 2011 as they beat Sri Lanka 2-1. The architect of the victory in the third and final Test was Cheteshwar Pujara whose unbeaten knock of 145 in the first innings set up the victory for India.

Richards is in no doubt that Pujara can build on his comeback to the Indian team and will the man to watch out for in the strong Indian batting line-up.

“Indian batting line-up looks good and has some fine players. But Cheteshwar Pujara, according to me, looks calm and composed at the crease and could hold the key for India. I see his willingness to excel each time he arrives at the crease. Pujara appears to be someone who is ready to give nothing but the best which is what any captain expects from his player,” he said.

Another player who did well in the third Test was fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who returned with a match haul of eight wickets, only missing out on the Man of the Match award because of Pujara’s brilliant innings. Though he will miss the first Test after picking up a one-match suspension for a breach in the ICC player’s “Code of Conduct” after his altercation with Dhammika Prasad during the match, Richards feels Ishant will prove a threat.

“Ishant Sharma did very well during that series. Having played eight years of international cricket, Ishant knows what works for him and that's a good sign. If he maintains his fitness, he will definitely be successful,” he said.

Richards looking forward to the contest between Steyn and Kohli

Richards though unsure in his opinion of Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli’s aggressiveness feels that the contest between Dale Steyn and Virat Kohli could very well define the outcome of the series.

“Kohli comes across as someone who will give it his all for the team. He is a naturally aggressive player who has talent and has been successful over a long period of time. In what ways Kohli's aggression will affect the Indian team is something we will have to wait and see,” Richards said. “Virat Kohli has been in good nick of late, and Dale Steyn knows the conditions well in India. However, it will be up to the pitches that are provided during the series. If Steyn gets the type of pitches where there is a bit of bounce, then it could be a good contest.”

Richards again emphasised that the pitches on offer will have a major role to play in the fortunes of South Africa, who has not lost an away series since 2006.

“As I mentioned earlier, it will all depend on the pitches they play on. I reckon it will be a closely-fought series where a Steyn five-for or an AB special or a Kohli century would turn the tide. South Africa would obviously not give an inch but they will have a tough task at hand since India at home are a formidable unit” he said.

Richards praises AB de Villiers

Richards remarked that De Villiers is a player of exceptional quality

South Africa has announced their squads in all the three formats for the India tour and Richards expressed satisfaction at the job done by the selectors.

“I see a lot of quality in this South African team. They have some fine batsmen such as AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla in their ranks and it's a good all-round side,” he said, before singling out AB de Villiers as a special talent.

“Every team prepares for a player of AB's quality. AB has more than one shot for any ball bowled to him. Plus, he has the ability to hit you anywhere in the ground, and that can be unnerving for any bowler. That's not all. He can shift gears as per the situation in a game and these things make him one of the most destructive and dependable batsmen in world cricket today,” Richards said. “It (batting style) depends on the condition he comes into bat. If South Africa are a few wickets down for not many on the board, the plan will be to attack. The type of field set will solely depend on the state the match is in when he comes into bat.”