Cheteshwar Pujara, the new wall of Indian cricket, is celebrating his 33rd birthday today. Widely regarded as one of the finest Test batsmen, Pujara has made a name for himself for flowing against the tide – when the focus has been on strike-rates, he has been building a career based on consuming deliveries, biding time and wearing the bowlers down like the old ways. Also Read - Ravichandran Ashwin Equals Imran Khan's Record With Eighth Man-of-The-Series Award
His latest exploit in Australia has earned him widespread praise. And he earned the admiration and respect doing exactly what was used to point fingers at him – scoring at a pace that would render watching paint dry a more entertaining pursuit. Also Read - Will Rishabh Pant Reverse-Flick a Fast Bowler Again? The Wicketkeeper Responds
He batted and then batted some more in the third Test against Australia in Sydney. Critics fired salvos towards his approach with few even insinuating he may have cost India a potential victory but he knew he was doing. India drew the contest and kept the series alive with the scoreline one-all. Also Read - India vs England, 4th Test: Man-of-The-Series Ravichandran Ashwin Reveals Most Pleasing Aspect of Dominating Win
Then came the fourth Test. Pujara batted some more. And then Australian pacers began testing his resolve by not just bowling the ‘unplayable deliveries’ which more often than not dislodged him in the series earlier but also focusing in breaking him down physically. He copped blows on hand, fingers, helmet silently but resolutely absorbing the pain to set up the path for a famous Indian victory.
Fans have taken to Twitter to wish Pujara on his birthday.
No wonder, he’s compared to the legendary Rahul Dravid who in his days had made the term “Wall” synonymous to his name. And Pujara has time and again justified the tag of the “New Indian Wall”, keeping the traditional mode of batting alive in Test cricket.
