Confidence back, Pujara is India’s go-to man again
SOUTHAMPTON: The intense focus on Virat Kohli during India’s 2014 Test series rout in England made another player a side story -Cheteshwar Pujara managed one fifty in 10 innings and faith in him as a man for all conditions ebbed.
Kohli shrugged off his 134 runs at an average of 13.4 in this country with magnificent batting in the Australia series that followed. But life got tough for Pujara, who puts a price on his wicket and values time spent at the crease in a throwback to a classical Test era.
While the India skipper has turned around his England record in style, Pujara’s invaluable century in the fourth Test on Friday completes a circle of disappointment for the player since his 153 on the 2013-14 South Africa tour had promised a great run going forward.
Pujara’s anchoring effort (132 not out) when the ball swung, seamed and then spun out of Moeen Ali’s hands showed fresh vigour and regained confidence following a 72 and a century stand with Kohli in the Trent Bridge Test win last week. It could well be the difference in India winning and losing this Test.
The India No 3 was far from resurrection even at the start of the series in what will be regarded as a second phase in Pujara’s career.
The dip had began even before the 2014 England tour. The Wanderers century was seen as a preamble to shine in the New Zealand tour in early 2014. But it went downhill from the moment he chased a wide ball to be out for one in the first Test at Auckland.
“I played a rash shot”, he was candid the next day. But it began eroding the confidence of a young batsman in his technique and ability to score big once he gets his eye in. Since a shaky Australia tour in 2014-15, he has not been guaranteed a spot.
In 2015, he got to play only as opener in the last Test in Sri Lanka, that too after injuries to Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay. His response was a 145 not out, carrying the bat on a green Sinhalese Sports Club pitch to help India win and seal the series.
But Kohli asking him to improve Test strike rate added pressure, and then coach Anil Kumble had to intervene and say it was not relevant. The insecurity pushed Pujara further into a shell. It showed his facing 50 balls to score his first run in the Johannesburg pitch in January, but he went on to get a fifty, proving his value in tough overseas conditions again. He prepared by playing for Yorkshire this summer but didn’t get many runs and wasn’t picked for the first Test.
Recalled at Lord’s, he was run out in a mix up with Kohli, but the 87-ball 17 in the second innings was pure grit amid a batting collapse. Kohli showed he valued Pujara, nursing him early in their 113-run stand at Trent Bridge.
On Friday, the anxiety in batting had gone. The cut from close to the body, decisive footwork and placements said Pujara was back for good.
PUJARA’S ANCHORING KNOCK, WHEN THE BALL SWUNG AND SEAMED AND THEN SPUN OUT OF MOEEN’S HANDS, HAD THE STAMP OF FRESHLY REGAINED CONFIDENCE .