Rahane is a class player: Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara attributed Virat Kohli’s success across formats to his confidence and explained that it would be difficult for other batsmen to replicate such aggression with the bat.
The Indian skipper’s latest star turn was a 267-ball 213 against Sri Lanka at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur in the ongoing second Test. He hit 17 boundaries and a couple of sixes on the way to his fifth double-century.
“I don’t think any other batsman could have started the innings the same way as he did,” said Pujara, who scored 143 runs from 362 balls, after the third day’s play on Sunday (November 26). “I think it is his confidence and way he is batting over the last two or three years. It would have been difficult for anyone else to score with such a run rate.”
Pujara’s century took the backseat as M Vijay, Kohli and Rohit Sharma stole the show with their more enterprising triple-figure knocks, but his effort at No. 3 was integral to India’s eventual tally of 610 for 6 declared in response to Sri Lanka’s first-innings score of 205.
While the strip in Nagpur was no Eden Gardens, which was a tough nut to crack for the batsmen, it has had consistent bounce and carry for three days. Also, unlike the pitch in Kolkata, cracks have opened up early, bringing the spinners into play.
“Kolkata was different wicket altogether with a lot of assistance for fast bowlers especially in the first innings,” explained Pujara. “This was a difficult wicket to score runs on as the wicket was on the slower side. Overall, it was a tough pitch, where you might not get out but it was also difficult to score runs. It wasn’t easy to get boundaries and we had to rotate the strike.”
With boundaries drying up early in the innings, Pujara and Vijay were forced to keep the board ticking with singles and doubles, and it was evident that Pujara has been working on his fitness in the off-season. “I have been working hard on my fitness and luckily I haven’t had too many injuries. I am fully fit now, and that’s why I am able to pick up quick singles and doubles,” he revealed.
It has been evident from the green strip used in the first Test that India wants to get ready for the upcoming tour of South Africa, starting in January next year. Subsequently, KL Rahul and Kohli have reiterated this commitment, stating that the limited time between series had forced India to use this series as a warm-up for the overseas challenge.
“I have enough experience of playing in South Africa. I was there in 2010 and 2013 and those experiences will certainly help. In any case, those who are only part of the Test squad, have enough time prepare for the South Africa series,” said Pujara.
“We will be going a bit early, a week or ten days early, and getting some time on those pitches. I don’t think I should be commenting on the lack of practice games because it depends on schedules and how the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) plans tours, but if you have a series in India before you go to say England or South Africa, the best you can do is replicate conditions here and get some practice.”
Pujara also backed Ajinkya Rahane to come good going forward. Rahane has had a bad run with the bat with scores of 4, 0 and 2 in his three Test innings against Sri Lanka. “Rahane is a class player. He isn’t making runs now but he will be in form soon. His work ethics are remarkable and once he gets some runs, he’ll go on to make big runs,” said Pujara.
