Pujara, the king!

[zen]

A Pujara appreciation thread 

 

 

Since 1990, I have seen some good performances by Ind's batsmen overseas including 

 

• Sachin-Azhar p'ship in SA 
• Dravid's performance in Adelaide Test (233), along w/ Agarkar's 6-er, in Eng at Leeds (p'ship w/ Bangar when conditions were tough early on), and in Pak (270)
• Laxman 148 at Adelaide and some of his innings in SL 
• Sehwag's swashblashing innings in Pak, Aus & SL
• Kohli's big series in Aus - 4 100s

 

But I have not seen anything like what Pujara has done - a) helped Ind win the series for the first time in Aus in 2018 by scoring 500+ runs and playing tons of balls, and b) in this series (2020-21), he has not only played the most balls and scored the most 50s, but now played out 2 sessions on the 5th day at Brisbane, keeping Ind alive (Aus commentators constantly said it is probably the bravest inning they have seen in Aus. That he may have a career in MMA) 

 

Pujara is unorthodox (maybe like Smith), gritty and maximises his talent ... Displays a great understanding of test cricket ... Maybe is the master of test cricket (his understanding and courage) ... Pujara is the king  

[velu]

Gujju power

[zen]

Dream run still on in the last session

 

No competitive cricket before the series (no IPL), two 4th innings specials, most 50s and most runs ... back to back heroic series in Aus 

 

 

 

 

[Cricketics]

For those who have never played cricket with the hard ball, let me tell you, you can have as many gears on your body, none will save you without bruises when you face the kind of bullets which Pujara took today on the pitch. Each of them were hard hit. This is what it takes to battle the Aussies on the last day and he gave it all.

 

In the end the scoreline says today 100 needed of 20 overs when he is leaving., so he did his job in the end by recovering the rr. Yes, he is slow but in the end, it is how he plays and it works sometimes and sometimes it doesn’t for the team. 
 

Hats off to him for taking it all on his body today for the team. Took some on head also. They were nasty but he stoood there like a warrior and kept fighting to bat till the last session.

 

[zen]

wow another Pujara show in Aus, another series win in Aus 

 

 

[ThirtyD.]

Was the plan to use Pujara’s block as a decoy while others slowly assault to try to chase the runs down? What the * has happened to this Indian team management? This all feels surreal. Brilliantly done! 

[nevada]

Pujara's innings today was the bravest innings I have seen ever! 

[PunterLog]

I didn't like the way he played bouncers but damn the guy is a rock. Getting hit by a cricket ball is something you need to experience personally to understand how it feels.

 

I still can't get it through my head that this guy got hit half a dozen times and still kept going.

[jalebi_bhai]

The man is a gem. Cherish him while he's there.

[coffee_rules]

Fought like a wounded tiger, team batted around him for 200 runs and most importantly, spent time that he took away from Australia, every leave, every defense, took the spirit away from Australia for Pant to give the sucker punch.

[zen]

54 minutes ago, PunterLog said:

I didn't like the way he played bouncers but damn the guy is a rock. Getting hit by a cricket ball is something you need to experience personally to understand how it feels.

 

I still can't get it through my head that this guy got hit half a dozen times and still kept going.

 

the guy is a legend!

Edited January 19, 2021 by zen

[zen]

Still feels like a supermanish effort!

[Bigg Brother]

That was courageous effort, I'm sure all those who were dissing him, even they would have felt assured till Pujara was at crease that India wont atleast lose this. Pujara made sure we dont lose, Pant-Gill-Rahane innings revolved around his effort.

[maniac]

Pujara is like the hard work you have to do to achieve success, the most boring and unglamorous part. However the most important and critical part to achieve it.

[BacktoCricaddict]

People talk about mental toughness and how the Ozzies invented it.  For decades, they said mental toughness meant - to sledge, to verbally abuse opponents and their families, to cheat in a myriad of ways from flicking bails off (Langer) to sandpapering the ball, to bowling nasty bouncers repeatedly at tail-enders. 

 

But yesterday, Pujara showed what real toughness is.  Real, authentic, stoic, quiet, nice-guy, kill-you-with-kindness toughness that comes from standing up and giving back  - but only in action.  Methodical, attritional action.  He is questioned over and over again by everyone including his own fans.  But he never wavers while the mentally "tough" disintegrate around him.   

 

Peel away the soft exterior, and you see a dude who is truly made of steel. 

Edited January 19, 2021 by BacktoCricaddict

[helperononline]

He's the hero India deserves, but not the one it needs right now. we always critize him because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector.

 

 

 

[sage]

Australia would have drawn the match had they not foolishly got Pujara out 

[gattaca]

Good effort but hoped he would have similar run to 2018. He averaged almost 60 in 2018. But he couldn’t the big hundred like he did in 2018. He is currently averaging around 36 -38 for this series. He played his part definitely but would want him to score big. He put in all the effort this time around as well but couldn’t stay longer to reap benefits.

Edited January 19, 2021 by gattaca

[zen]

1 hour ago, helperononline said:

He's the hero India deserves, but not the one it needs right now. we always critize him because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian. A watchful protector.

 

 

 

the dark knight  

[zen]