Pujara’s best: Looking back at his finest knocks

By Divy Tripathi

Cheteshwar Pujara’s grit and determination held India’s top and middle-order together for more than a decade, with the batter mixing his solid defense with positive strokeplay to get to 7,195 runs in the longest format.

Highly regarded as a team player, Pujara didn’t hesitate from challenging conditions, whether it be the turning tracks of the subcontinent or the fierce bounce of South Africa or Australia, and was ready to play any role that the side needed of him.

His 19 hundreds which are spread over six cricketing nations are a testament to his caliber as a batter.

Here’s a look at his finest batting performances over the years:

206* and 41* v England in Ahmedabad, 2012

Pujara arrived into the India lineup at a time when it was on the brink of a transition. And despite his sturdy 72 on debut, a string of low scores along with the presence of veteran Rahul Dravid at no.3 kept him out of the side.

He eventually got an opportunity after Dravid retired.

And it didn’t take Pujara long to show his capability, as he did with a cracking 159 against New Zealand in the 2012/13 season.

However, it was in the opening Test of the following series against England where Pujara really showed his wares. The contest against England was important, as the side had defeated India 4-0 in 2011 on their shores, and now India looked to repay the favours.

Pujara backed a strong start from India openers, complementing Virender Sehwag’s aggression with his resolute strokeplay. His unbeaten double hundred which came against an attack featuring James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad was the very first for him in the format, that helped India post a strong total of 521/8 on a spinning track.

England's batters failed against the turn of Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, and ended up setting India a target of 77 runs after being asked to follow-on. Pujara was at the front yet again, smashing a quick 41* to guide India to a nine-wicket win.

In all, he hit 29 fours and established himself as a reliable no.3 option after the retirement of Dravid.

153 v South Africa in Johannesburg, 2013

While Pujara continued his green run at home, including another double ton against Australia, he would’ve known that greater tests awaited abroad. His first overseas tour to South Africa had yielded merely 31 runs from three innings, and the batter wanted to correct the same.

He did so in the very first opportunity that he got, scoring 153 in the second innings of the opening Test of India’s tour of South Africa in 2013. He shared a 222-run stand with Virat Kohli (96) taking on Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, and Morne Morkel during his 270-ball stay.

While the game ended in a thrilling draw, Pujara had shown that he was technically adept to thrive away from home too.

145* v Sri Lanka in Colombo, 2015

After his century in South Africa, the hundreds dried up for Pujara. Despite getting starts, the batter couldn’t go on and get to the three-figure mark.

The batter found himself out of the side under the new management of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, even as India tried out Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane at the no.3 position in Sri Lanka. However, injuries to openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay meant that an opening spot opened up for Pujara in the third Test. The series was tentatively placed at 1-1, with Sri Lanka having secured the first Test before India fought back in the second Test.

Batting out of the position, the batter overcame tricky circumstances to help India to 312 in the first innings. He remained unbeaten on 145, overcoming the pace of Dhammika Prasad and the turn of Rangana Herath during his majestic knock.

It proved to be the difference as Angelo Matthews was the only other batter to reach the three-figure mark in a 117-run win for the tourists. This century set the base for India’s first series win in the country in 22 years.

123 and 71 v Australia in Adelaide, 2018

With his confident run at home in the 2016/17 season, Pujara was backed for the South Africa tour, but the batter failed to get big scores despite getting starts on trying wickets. He was dropped from the first Test of the subsequent England tour, but made it back into the XI for the remainder of the series, and responded with a confident 132* in Southampton.

This secured his place for the upcoming tour of Australia, and it was a series that Pujara was to make his own.

The batter set the tone with a stellar outing in Adelaide, yet again coming to India’s rescue after they were 41/4 and then 86/5, holding the innings together against Australia’s fearsome attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, and Pat Cummins. His 123 helped India to a total of 250.

Cheteshwar Pujara during his 123 against Australia // Getty Images

As India’s pacers managed to secure a slim lead, Pujara made sure India furthered their advantage with a fighting 71 in the second innings as well. India eventually took home the game by 31 runs, giving them a crucial lead early on.

Pujara continued performing for India through the series, and finished as the Player of the Series for his 521 runs at an average of 74.42, including two more centuries in Melbourne and Sydney respectively.

Courtesy of his contributions, India won their first-ever Test series against Australia.

50 and 77 in Sydney and 25 and 56 in Brisbane v Australia, 2021

It would be impossible to discuss Cheteshwar Pujara’s career without referring to his masterclass Down Under during India’s epic series win in 2020/21.

Pujara’s importance was magnified with rising injuries in India camps, and with skipper Kohli away, the batter had the tall ask of holding India’s middle-order together along with Ajinkya Rahane.

Pujara allowed his natural style to flourish, trusting his defence before going for the attack, while also ready to take body blows in hostile conditions against the fierce Australian pacers.

While all four of his innings were important, his second innings performances proved to be gamechanging efforts. Along with Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari, he fought in Sydney to secure a pivotal draw.

On the other hand, his 56 from 211 balls in Brisbane tired Australia’s famed attack in good bowling conditions, helping the momentum shift in the favour of the tourists, and allowing Pant to play his natural game. India won the Test by three wickets, and secured their second successive series win in Australia at Gabba.