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Pujara : Our New No.3

J P K

By J P K
in Cricket Talk

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jj_28 Newbie

jj_28

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Pujara : Our New No.3

'I am conscious of my fitness now' - Pujara August 15, 2012 Cheteshwar Pujara will get a chance to cement his place in the Test side when India take on India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who played the last of his three Tests in January 2011 in South Africa, is eager to make a comeback to the Test side and following his injury problems, his focus is on fitness. "I am very conscious about my fitness now. I am aware and try my best to avoid injuries," Pujara told DNA. "I have a fitness routine and I follow it religiously. It hurts when I miss a training session. The best chance to avoid injuries in cricket, where you throw yourself on the field, is by trying and following certain training programmes." "I am following a schedule prepared by the NCA physios. I am working on strength and stability." After making a dream debut against Australia in 2010 - where he scored a matchwinning, fourth-innings 72 - and being part of the team that later toured South Africa, Pujara was sidelined for much of 2011 with a knee injury. Pujara had a modest Ranji Trophy season with Saurashtra last year on his return, managing only 200 runs with two half-centuries. But the recent India A tour of the West Indies - he was the top scorer with 252 runs in three matches in difficult batting conditions - renewed the selectors' faith in him and he was included for India's Tests against New Zealand. "It feels good. I've worked really hard for this. Now that I have got my chance, I want to bat the way I did on my debut against Australia. I was also part of the squad to South Africa. I didn't get too many runs there, but it was a great learning experience. I got a feel of Test cricket in 2010 and I want to use that confidence and start all over again. Unfortunately, I was out for six months but then injuries happen. The good thing is that I am fit now. I did well for India 'A' in the West Indies." In the first match against West Indies A in Barbados, Pujara followed up his first-innings half-century with an unbeaten 96 that helped India A to fashion a dramatic two-wicket win. He scored another half-century in the second match. "The conditions were tough; the wickets were up and down. The ball jumped from a good-length spot and it was difficult for the batsmen to adjust," Pujara said of the West Indies series. "But I never let the conditions affect me. I backed myself and played my natural game. I knew a good tour would help me get back into the Test side." Pujara made his first-class debut seven years ago, and since then he has amassed 4639 runs at an average of 53.32. But the New Zealand series will be an important one; he might especially be scrutinised now, with India looking for a replacement for Rahul Dravid and there often being comparisons made between the two players. But Pujara wants to just focus on his game: "I think there shouldn't be a comparison. Rahul Dravid scored more than 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs. And I have just started off. But I respect the faith people have in me."
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/577459.html Fitness is such a big issue in our country glad he's got a specific routine catered especially for him Pujara has the perfect temperament for Test cricket and hopefully he will cement his place in the NZ tour
jj_28 Newbie

jj_28

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I don't think he'll bat at no.3 right now,Virat will.He's our latest no.6 but our best bet at test level.Hope he does well:pray:
Pujara in not a middle order batsmen, his best position is at no.3 Sehwag Gambhir Pujara Sachin Laxman Kohli Dhoni This is the most likely scenario
Debutant Newbie

Debutant

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I think Kohli will play in the No. 3 position. Pujara may come in the No. 6 position only if Dhoni plays Pujara instead of his beloved Raina

King Khan Newbie

King Khan

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If team mgnt wants to see Virat test career ends in future as Dravid/SRT-like meaningful way, he needs to start innings early in anchor role position & keep habit of it. IMO new guys like Pujara needs to provide more of them to stick in nat side. Souldn't show any weakness for playing in any batting order providing better essence than Raina.

Crookbond Newbie

Crookbond

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^ totally agree. Kohli is more suited for #4' date=' which is occupied. He will have to come maybe at 5, as Lacxamn is more used to playing with the tail than Kohli.[/quote'] Tendulkar should open with Gambhir. Pujara at No.3 and Kohli at No.4, Sehwag at 5. I don't see why any position should be "occupied".
vamos_rafa Newbie

vamos_rafa

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Tendulkar should open with Gambhir. Pujara at No.3 and Kohli at No.4, Sehwag at 5. I don't see why any position should be "occupied".
The reason I say it's occupied is, that it's the position where he has played forever. If Team management forces him to open then he should. But, that certainly is not going to happen.
SLICKR392 Newbie

SLICKR392

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I have said this before that Kohli is a perfect No.4, scoring lots of runs doesn't make you a No.3 material. Pujara might make a good No.3 but we are yet to find a perfect No.3 in the line up.

Crookbond Newbie

Crookbond

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The reason I say it's occupied is, that it's the position where he has played forever. If Team management forces him to open then he should. But, that certainly is not going to happen.
I know - I just wanted to speak what I think is the correct batting order. It's time for Tendulkar to take up a new challenge.
vamos_rafa Newbie

vamos_rafa

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I know - I just wanted to speak what I think is the correct batting order. It's time for Tendulkar to take up a new challenge.
Well surely, one of the new challeneges that he does have is to guide a middle order full of youngsters. I think Laxman's days are also round the corner. Also, there is no point of him opening. It's far better to groom a new opener, if sehwag has to be played in the middle order.
Crookbond Newbie

Crookbond

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Well surely, one of the new challeneges that he does have is to guide a middle order full of youngsters. I think Laxman's days are also round the corner. Also, there is no point of him opening. It's far better to groom a new opener, if sehwag has to be played in the middle order.
Ajinkya Rahane is the only player that comes to my mind who can take that position but in all likeliness Rohit Sharma will play ahead of him in the Test matches :facepalm:

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