Cheteshwar Pujara: Slave to India's success

It is a side however, that the Board agreed would not be required at full strength on the tour to Zimbabwe. Few would argue against it. Which is why it is astounding that Pujara hasn’t found a debut in this series yet, leaving many wondering what Indian cricket’s plan for him is as far as the shorter format goes.

He will almost certainly feature in the fourth ODI. The bigger question, though, is whether he is in India’s plans for the 2015 World Cup or will purely be tried because the management feel obliged to. To their credit, the World Cup plan looks the more likely one and regardless of the delay in his inclusion, it’s facilitation will barely do any harm to anyone involved.

Rahul Dravid shredded the tag of “Test specialist” in his time and displayed the privileges that came with his combination of stoical technique and mind.

In fact, he has continued to do so until recently. But there is no such thing as completely convincing the public; and more so in this generation of regular six-an-over chases. There will be sections that would prefer the flashy, free-flowing Rahane up front over Pujara, and quite a multitude would choose any of Rayudu, Vijay, Karthik and Raina over Pujara in the middle of an ODI innings.

Is it warranted, however? The notion that the high-elbow strokes no longer have a place in limited-overs cricket.

If it is, Pujara’s List A average of 56.97 wouldn’t be providing too much support. Incidentally, it’s the second highest limited-overs average of all time – Michael Bevan being the only person higher on the list.

Thankfully, the people in charge of Pujara’s career aren’t the many sections of the public. But does the management really fancy Pujara as a long-term servant to Indian one-day cricket?

On a thorough dissection of the strongest XI that India can put out in an ODI at the moment, Pujara would barely fit into the opening position currently administrated by Rohit Sharma. The only other temporary fixture in that team is Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu would be well within his rights to claim that spot. Would Dhoni be prepared then, to drop Rohit Sharma down the order to accommodate Pujara at the top?

I could bet all of BCCI’s treasury that he wouldn’t. There isn’t any reason to do fiddle with a successful combination – especially not one with a consistent Rohit Sharma!

On ability, Pujara deserves a regular place in the team. However, it is ability without which the team has succeeded anyway.

Putting all of it in perspective – with the long list of players waiting to have a go and an even longer one trying to find their way back into the team – Pujara might well end up victim to the “Test specialist” portfolio for a few years.

The fact that the most established batting line-up took to the field in the first three ODIs against the No. 10 team in the world indicated that Pujara is only considered a back-up. Which is a pity. By no measure would Cheteshwar Pujara, in any part of the world, be a back-up player. He is a slave to his own nation’s dominance, at the moment. But so was Michael Hussey, not so long ago.

A.A. Milne’s quote could not be better fitting than in Pujara’s case. You can’t help but believe that he will get there some day – perseverance is a trait gifted to him by nature. Until then, he will pile them on.