The curious case of Cheteshwar Pujara

Introduction to Test cricket:

In the year 2010, India were battling Australia in a 2 match Test series in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. In the second Test at Bangalore, India were set a target of 207 runs to win the match and the series.

Having lost the wicket of Sehwag at the score of 17, in walked a young debutant from Rajkot to face the hostile Australian bowling. Having scored just 4 runs in the first innings batting at number 6, Pujara was a surprise choice to bat at number 3 in India's second innings. However the right handed batsman did not disappoint. He repaid the faith shown by his skipper and played a match winning innings of 72 runs on a tricky pitch and ensured that India won the Test and the series.

A knee injury forced him out of the 2011 season. However he made a strong comeback to the Indian Test team with a century against the visiting New Zealand team in 2012.

England were on the receiving end when they toured India in the year 2012. Though India lost the series against England, Pujara was one of the few bright spots for India in the series. A double century in the first Test at Ahmedabad was followed by a century in the second Test at Mumbai. While the other batsmen struggled to cope up with the English bowlers, Pujara looked at ease every time he went out to bat.

The successful English series at home was followed by another successful series against Australia at home in 2013 when he scored 419 runs in 7 innings at an impressive average of 83.60 with a century and two half centuries to his credit. Another century at Mumbai followed against a hapless West Indies bowling attack and Pujara was making the number 3 spot his own.

Having established himself as a solid number 3 batsman in home conditions,the real Test for Pujara lied in the 2013-2014 season when India had various tours outside the sub-continent.

A tour to South Africa is always difficult considering the wickets and the fast bowlers. The youngster bating at number 3 scored 280 runs in 4 innings in South Africa including a brilliant 153 at Johannesburg while facing the likes of Steyn, Philander, Morkel and Kallis. Pujara was in the form of his life and was ready for the challenge of playing New Zealand, England and Australia away from home.

Struggle overseas:

Pujara averaged just 15 in New Zealand

Having dominated bowling attacks at home, Pujara was expected to replicate the success overseas.

However the tour of New Zealand led to his downfall. He managed to score only 60 runs in 4 innings at a dismal average of 15 and a highest score of 23. The New Zealand series was followed by another disastrous series in England in 2014. 222 runs in 10 innings at an average of just 22.20 with just 1 half century shocked cricket fans all over the world. Pujara was supposed to be the mainstay in the Indian order but he failed to score when it mattered the most.

The 2014-15 tour of Australia also saw Pujara struggling and he only managed to score 201 runs in 6 innings with just 1 half century and he lost his place in the playing eleven against Sri Lanka for the first two Tests.

Strong comeback in subcontinent:

Pujara scored an unbeaten 145 against Sri Lanka and led India to a series win

India were playing Sri Lanka in the third Test at Colombo with the series tied at 1-1. Pujara was ignored for selection in the first two Tests. However he was picked as an opener in the third Test and he did not disappoint. On a tough batting pitch, he carried his bat and scored a brilliant 145 in India's first innings. India went on to win the Test and the series and Pujara for his heroics was named the man of the match.

Pujara was almost a certainty in the Indian team for the next couple of years as India played most of their cricket at home. The 4 match Test series against South Africa at the end of 2015 was dominated by the bowlers. Pujara managed to score 202 runs in 6 innings at an average of 33.67.

The year 2016 was a successful one for Pujara as India played most of its Test cricket at home. In 16 innings in 2016, Pujara scored 836 runs at an average of 55.73 with 3 centuries and 4 half centuries.

The year 2017 also saw Pujara dominating bowling attacks at home and in Sri Lanka and he managed to score 1140 runs in 18 innings at an average of 67.06

Home Vs Away:

Pujara has been playing county cricket for Yorkshire

Pujara's real struggle was against South Africa early this year and in 6 innings, he just scored 100 runs at an average of 16.67, providing evidence that he struggled away from home.

Pujara no doubt has been scoring runs in heaps when he plays in India. An average of 62.42 in 56 innings with 10 centuries and 13 half centuries shows how well he has performed at home. However in 41 away Test innings, Pujara averages just 35.25 with 4 centuries. Pujara averages 15 in New Zealand, 22.20 in England and 33.50 in Australia without any century against them.

The road ahead

With the tough 5 match assignment against England in England, Pujara will have to score runs to cement his place in the Test team. With the likes of K. L. Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane fighting it hard for the number 3 position, Pujara will be tested against a strong English attack. He has been playing county cricket for almost 3 months and will be acclimatized to the English conditions.

Though Pujara has scored 4531 runs in 97 innings in 58 Tests at an average of 50.34, he has really struggled overseas and will have to score big runs in England and Australia this year to cement his place in the team.

As his mentor Rahul Dravid had rightly quoted “He will be the first Chateshwar Pujara and not the second Rahul Dravid”. India will be hoping that Pujara fills in the void which Rahul Dravid has left and will be one of the most successful No. 3 batsmen for India.