Cheteshwar Pujara, a moment to remember
In the last innings of the recently concluded Bangalore Test between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, Indians were chasing a target of 207 runs. It is always difficult to chase a target in the fourth innings as the wicket on the fifth day deteriorates and the ball doesn’t
come onto the bat easily.
After Sehwag was dismissed early the Crowd was expecting to see premier number 3 batsmen, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid, who has been struggling for form. Air was filled with expectations, guess who comes into bat.
It is a lean, slim, 22 year old debutant, Cheteshwar Pujara, who has given people plenty to think about with his dazzling 72, under the gloomy atmosphere of about more than fifty thousand people.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s innings of 72 in the 2nd innings did set-up the chase nicely for his team. In doing so, he shut all the doors to Australian victory. The youngster wanted to be the hero as he played with a clear mind and intelligence.
He was tensed as he stole a close single from his 2nd ball. The nerves were released a bit. The very next ball he faced, he cracked it through the covers for a delightful boundary. If any, all the shivers were settled down. The confidence seemed
to cover him as he played a delightful cover drive on a similar kind of delivery that kept low, which got him out in the first innings.
Moreover, he showed his class against the spinner Nathan Hauritz, hammering him with a crisp drive through the extra cover by using his feet. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Murali-Vijay-c78035 with his well made 37 supported the youngster nicely as they formed a 72-run partnership.
Sachin Tendulkar’s appearance on the crease made things easier for Pujara as he cracked two more boundaries off Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326. In the first shot, he showed his ability to play on the leg side as he played a glance on a straight delivery at his pads, between
fine-leg and square-leg. The whip towards mid-wicket fence brought up his brilliant half-century.
Hauritz then brought the youngsters demise as he chopped one onto the stumps. In addition, the ball pitched in line with off stump and held its way. Cheteshwar, in anticipation thought of a turning ball, but it was a straighter one as it went onto hit the
stumps. It was the end of a magnificent innings with an excellent strike rate of 88, including seven awesome fours.
The brilliant display of 129 minutes from the blade of Pujara has made a lasting affect on the national selectors. He has been piling up huge runs in the domestic circuit, and finally got a nod to play against Australia in the 2nd Test as a replacement
for the hero of Mohali, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772.
In the 2nd innings in a pressure situation, he is promoted ahead of his childhood hero and played a gem of knock to set up things nicely for his team. It’s like a dream come true for him.
After, India had won the match Pujara said, "I sensed they wanted me to score runs. They wanted India to win", he says. But he admits the first ball was difficult. The first-innings dismissal was playing on his mind. "I was a bit more nervous".
It very rarely happens, playing with the greats like, Tendulkar and Dravid and you really get the honours ahead of the masters. The youngster from Gujarat did it with ease.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s first-class record will vindicate his selection in the Indian colours. In 51 games, he has amassed an amazing tally of 4062 runs, averaging almost 60 with a best of 302. Adding to this, in his last four seasons at the domestic level,
he has averaged over 50.
The young gun from the city of Rajkot has definitely made an impact on the people of India. He is definitely one to watch out for in the near future.
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