Before the start of the second test between India & Srilanka in Colombo, all eyes were on Cheteshwar Pujara not only because he has been the pillar of the Indian batting in test cricket after the retirement of Stalwarts like Tendulkar, Dravid & VVS but also because he was set to play his 50th test match of his career.
After winning the toss India opted to bat as expected & the two openers – KL Rahul & Shikhar Dhawan started on a positive note especially Shikhar who continued his form from the first test and started scoring briskly. But when it looked like he was in for another big score, he fell for 35 trapped leg before to the right-arm offbreak spinner Dilruwan Perera.
Dhawan’s wicket paved the way for India’s one down test batsman Pujara & it was up to him now to partner with KL, give him confidence from the other end & also see to it that the score is ticking & the team doesn’t lose any further wickets. And on the expected lines this is what exactly happened and both – KL & Pujara – started to stitch a good partnership & build on it.
In the process the duo added a 50 plus stand with KL hitting a half century while the ever so reliant Pujara reaching the landmark of 4000 runs in test cricket!!
When Pujara came into bat, he was 34 runs short of the 4000 runs landmark, which he accomplished by playing out 98 balls. The interesting thing about the landmark is that Rahul Dravid – the Wall – achieved this landmark in 84 innings & Pujara too achieved it in the same number of innings.
Cheteshwar Pujara joined an elite club of Indian cricketers when he reached this landmark. Pujara is currently tied at no. 3 in the list of fastest Indian to reach 4000 runs in tests alongside Dravid.
The top spot is held by the explosive batter – Virender Sehwag who reached the landmark in 79 innings while the second spot belongs to legendary batsman – Sunil Gavaskar who achieved it in 81 innings.
However, it should be noted that both Viru & Gavaskar were opening batsmen while Pujara & Dravid batted at no 3.
But as always, Pujara does not seem to be overwhelmed by the situation nor does he care about any personal records or landmarks, he just goes about doing his work consistently.
Not only has he reached the 4000 runs landmark but has just completed another century in test cricket & is going strong alongside Ajinkya Rahane – who has also completed yet another half century & more importantly got the team in a very strong position.
This hundred from Pujara is his 3rd in a row against the Lankans.
He also became the 7th Indian batsman to score a test hundred in his 50th test.
Pujara has been criticised for pacing his innings slowly & often compared with the Legends of Indian cricket & has gone through a lot of criticism. But all these things don’t seem to bother him and he just goes about doing his job effectively by churning out runs, stitching important partnerships, playing out sessions and more importantly adds a lot of value to his wicket. The bowlers have to earn his wicket.
No matter how much criticism he gets, all that we know is he’s a run machine, a reliable & consistent player & certainly India’s best test batsman currently. Not to forget his textbook technique.
He is a batsman for all conditions.
Congratulations Che on reaching a personal milestone & also for yet another century.
Here’s wishing you all the best for many more!!
More power to you ….
CRICNIK 