.svg){kind=small}
Efficacy and effectiveness are frequently clouded, if not completely obfuscated, by aesthetics. Although this is a universal truth, the contrast is more overtly and specifically highlighted in the realm of sports. Even though the results are identical, the same maneuver performed by two different sportsmen might be as dissimilar as chalk and cheese.
Cheteshwar Pujara, however, argues the opposite. For him, creating a melody for a cover drive is never a worthwhile endeavor. It's merely an intentional arm extension that gives the ball very specific directions.
Therefore, it is unlikely that Pujara's display of a forward defensive stroke, in which he looks down the ball until it drops dead at his feet but not before making a quiet acquaintance with the middle of his bat, will cause his audience to exhale or squeal with delight.
Pujara 3.0 on display when he enters the field to bat against Australia at Arun Jaitley Stadium in the second Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
It's remarkable how Rahul Dravid's downfall and Cheteshwar Pujara's ascent happened at the same time. Team India was preparing for some expensive exits in the 2010s.
The 22-year-old played his debut against Australia in Bangalore against this backdrop, scoring 72 runs off just 89 balls.
Along with the Master, he assisted India in achieving a challenging 207-run objective and winning the series 2-0. However, this was not the Cheteshwar Pujara that would be on exhibit during the next ten years. This knock was an anomaly, in actuality. He originally became famous for his ability to fortify himself and neutralize the opposition by playing the waiting game.
Cheteshwar Pujara became increasingly intense as the years went by. The easygoing Gujarati fought fire with fire while making his debut tour in South Africa in 2013–2014. In a gripping Test match at Johannesburg, he hit 153 after Kohli's century garnered all the attention. But the following year, his performance would deteriorate.
It might be his hardest slump in international cricket, and it would be his first. His bat was approaching at an angle, and he was edging the seaming deliveries straight to the cordon. It was easy to understand and typical. Coming through his darkest hour, he did, however, briefly change. It was time to launch Cheteshwar Pujara 2.0.
A year later, he made a comeback in Sri Lanka, where he played the famed Rangana Herath with great skill off the back foot. He even began the third Test match and batted the entire game, scoring 145 important runs. India won the game and the series, solidifying King Kohli's status as the country's new Test captain at the time.
FAQs
What is Cheteshwar Pujara's position in cricket?
Pujara bats with a traditional right-handed stance and a solid, compact technique.
Has Cheteshwar Pujara been involved in any charity or social initiatives outside of cricket?
Cheteshwar Pujara, like many cricketers, has been involved in various charitable and social initiatives to give back to society. He has supported causes related to health, education, and underprivileged children.
