When Cheteshwar Pujara first walked onto the pitch as a Test batsman, it was to replace Murali Vijay after a triple-century stand with Sachin Tendulkar. He made just four, while SRT proceeded to rack up 214. That was the first innings in the 2nd Test against Australia at Bangalore 17 months ago, a game which India won by seven wickets.
Since then, the young man from Rajkot has enjoyed an incredible run of success not only in domestic cricket but also in the five-day format against some of the top sides in the world. This week, he made a double century of his own, this time alongside Vijay, and insodoing reached the 1000-run milestone in only his eleventh Test match. Also in a 2nd Test against the same opposition. Not many batsmen have achieved that in the modern era. Not Tendulkar, not Ponting, not Dravid. In fact, only Sunil Gavaskar equalled the achievement but, following his sensational debut series, he merely limped to the thousand mark. Pujara, on the other hand, has punctuated his short career with big scores, culminating with that 204. Since that debut, every time Pujara passes 50 he progresses to three figures, topping 150 three times in four.
He smashed centuries in successive games against England last autumn then he warmed up for the Aussies by thumping 203 not out and 352 for Saurashtra on his home ground in the Ranji Trophy. That triple is no big deal for Pujara either. He scored 300+ twice in an under-22 tournament then again as a 21 year-old in first-class cricket. Surely, it can't be long before he does it in a Test, too.
Classical in style, he looks born to bat on the world stage, and now claims a career Test average of more than 67 and in 77 first-class games of just over 60. Pujara's one-day record is nearly as impressive but, perhaps unfortunately for an Indian in this IPL-obsessed era, he has yet to shine in T20. However, I've always said that a class player will succeed in any form of the sport. Sometimes it takes time, and I hope India is prepared to wait. I suspect opposition bowlers no longer fear Tendulkar and Sehwag; Pujara is the man to get out.
