India v Australia 2018/19: 5 Key battles which might decide the outcome of the Test series

#4 Cheteshwar Pujara versus Josh Hazelwood

Cheteshwar Pujara is an important cog in India's batting wheel. Pujara has a great home record against the Australians scoring two double hundreds.

He was instrumental in India's triumph against Australia in 2017 when he scored a series-defining 92 in Bangalore followed by a masterful double hundred in Ranchi. His efforts helped India to go unscathed into the last Test which they eventually won and wrapped up the series.

Pujara averages a mammoth 64.28 with 900 runs in 9 matches against Australia in India. But his average reduces almost by half in Australia where he has played 3 Tests scoring 201 runs at 33.50 with a solitary fifty. His main problem has been handling the in-swinger which has put him in trouble on a number of occasions.

Pujara's battle against the ever consistent Josh Hazelwood would be an interesting one. Hazlewood is a bowler who bowls in the channel outside the off-stump and gets enough movement to trouble both the edges.

Pujara needs to be precise with his footwork to cover the movement and needs to be aware of his off-stump to avoid getting bowled.