Pujara set to enjoy the fruit of domestic success

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More... ‘I've improved as a batsman' S. Ram Mahesh TALENTED:Cheteshwar Pujara says that the Emerging Players' tournament has made him more mature. CHENNAI: Cheteshwar Pujara hasn't any of the trappings of the new-age cricketer. He might, as a response to the state of affairs, bat quickly. But he's never rushed, never violent. He doesn't do bravado — he's almost painfully soft-spoken — and when he speaks of downloading videos, they are often, as one teammate found out, videos of his most recent innings, which, considering his penchant for giant scores, takes a fair bit of his time. He's so old-school in fact that he's called a ‘duration player', a tag cricketers of this generation turn their noses up at. It's also a generalisation that isn't accurate: in his most recent List A match, in Worcester, he made an unbeaten 87 off 89 balls against an England Lions attack that contained Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood. His unbeaten 32 for IOC against Tata SC here on Wednesday was a modern innings. Not to mention the fact that he averages 57 in the 50-over format at a rate of 82 runs every 100 balls and 33 in Twenty20 cricket at a rate of 130. Not bothered “The tag doesn't bother me,” says Pujara. “My strength has always been my natural ability to play long innings. I'm hungry for runs, I don't like to get out, that's the motto of my batting. But I've done well in limited-overs cricket, I did well in the last IPL, I've really enjoyed my experience with the Kolkata Knight Riders, so yeah, maybe it's time for the tag to go.” The tours of England with India ‘A' and Australia with the Emerging Players side have helped him become a better batsman. “I've improved as a batsman and as a cricketer,” he says. “The tours helped me mature because the conditions are different and the cricketers you face are different. The Australians, for example are aggressive, and it's different batting against them. Handling pressure “And England had many international cricketers. You don't get easy balls, so you learn how to handle that pressure. When you succeed it gives you so much confidence.” How does he see his quest for a spot in the national team progressing? “Every time I go out to play, I go out because I love playing cricket,” he says. “Of course I want to play for India, but I enjoying playing whatever level it is. It's important to do your best at all times because your team, whichever level they are playing, wants to win. “I recently heard Sachin Tendulkar say that there's no limit to improvement. I want to improve every day.”

[Karan114]

Sounds like he has a good attitude...I look forward to seeing him play for India and see what all the hype is all about. If he can live up to his promise then it will be brilliant for India, especially in Tests.

[saneindian]

Sounds to have got a very good thought process and a very grounded young cricketer. The NZ test series will be the perfect opportunity to groom him, perhaps rest Dravi for a test or two and give the young lad a go at 3.

[vamos_rafa]

Sounds to have got a very good thought process and a very grounded young cricketer. The NZ test series will be the perfect opportunity to groom him, perhaps rest Dravi for a test or two and give the young lad a go at 3.

Don't know whether it is advisable to rest Dravid. With so much of test cricket coming up its imperative that he hits form and playing against NZ would be the ideal foil for that. Agreed that he needs to be groomed into the side and the ony available place was #6, but the way Raina played in SL it would be unfair to drop him. Pujara deserves a place, but it would need a stroke of luck,like someone getting injured or a harsh decision to be made, if he has to get into the side.

[kabira]

He is from my town and I happen to meet him last year. He was injured that time around. He is actually neighbor of my best friends' sasural.

[Chandan]

Will the selectors at least bring Pujara into the fold and keep him in the squad marked as a reserve middle order batsman or will Rohit still get ahead of him or will the tussle go on between Raina and Yuvraj?

[Mamu]

I hope he replaces Rohit immediately in our scheme of things -- right away !

[Karan114]

I would bring him in ahead of Yuvraj personally, I think we should focus on getting Yuvraj back to his best in limited overs cricket where he can be brilliant and move on from him in Tests. But the selectors are going to stick with Yuvraj for now, so I hope that Pujara at least moves in front of Rohit Sharma in the queue for a middle order spot.

[ina_jawaan]

how long can they afford to ignore pujara? what does the young lad have to do to get into the side? get him in now, both to reward him for his good form and to send out a clear message that established players cannot rely on past and fading glories to justify their sinecures in the indian team!

[don_corleone840]

yeah they have given chance to stupid players like jadeja,pathan,karthik,nohit,virat kohlt and saha . i dont know y selectors are not picking pujara selectors sucks its mirracle that dhoni is actually winnig matches with this lot.

[achilles]

Pujara genuinely deserves the kind of push Raina is getting. Among other things, he can also play the short ball.

[kabira]

how did you come to know that he can play short ball??

[Sid]

Pujara genuinely deserves the kind of push Raina is getting. Among other things' date=' [b']he can also play the short ball.

How do you know that?:hmmm:

[ina_jawaan]

Get him in!

[IKnowU]

Well I watched Pujara couple of weeks ago in Oz, I can say he plays like Dravid. Proper shots and never in a hurry to score runs. Just plays the ball to its merits. At best hes probably test material, I doubt for ODI.

[Gunner_Mania]

how did you come to know that he can play short ball??

How do you know that?:hmmm:

because his coaches have written in their reports.

[Gunner_Mania]

Well I watched Pujara couple of weeks ago in Oz' date=' I can say he plays like Dravid. Proper shots and never in a hurry to score runs. Just plays the ball to its merits. At best hes probably test material, I doubt for ODI.[/quote'] The Pujara v Raina debate that achilles is having reminds me of Dravid v Ganguly, While Dravid had a superior technique over Ganguly, it was Ganguly who made his ODI debut 3 years before Dravid and failed. They both then made their test debuts in 1995 and the rest as they say is history. I think Pujara will get his chance if not this year atleast next year when Dravid retires.

[IKnowU]

The Pujara v Raina debate that achilles is having reminds me of Dravid v Ganguly' date=' While Dravid had a superior technique over Ganguly, it was Ganguly who made his ODI debut 3 years before Dravid and failed. They both then made their test debuts in 1995 and the rest as they say is history. I think Pujara will get his chance if not this year atleast next year when Dravid retires.[/quote'] +1 I rather Pujara come in properly and replace Dravid once he retires and not be in and out of the team as a replacement.

[saneindian]

Some stats for Dravid before he made his debut (between 1990-91 to 1995-96 seasons) 52 matches, 81 innings, 13 not outs, 4102 runs, avg of 60.3, 16 100s and 21 50s, highest of 200* The stats for Pujara so far (betwwen 2005-06 to 2009-10 seasons) 49 matches, 78 innings, 13 not outs, 3925 runs, avg of 60.4, 14 100s and 13 50s, highest of 302* Notice the remarkable similarity between those numbers. Also Dravid made his debut at 23, Pujara is right now 22 and will turn 23 in Jan 2011. here's praying that Pujara goes onto have an excellent career for India like his idol Dravid.

[kabira]

Dravid will hang his boots I think latest by SA series, if not after Aus/NZ series. Pujara can come in place of Dravid Raina for Ganguly. Now we need to find replacement for Laxman and Sachin. Probably Laxman => Kohli or Rohit??