Published 14:55 IST, January 29th 2021
Cheteshwar Pujara uses THIS hard-hitting Muhammad Ali line to describe The Gabba heroics
Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara talks about his game plan against Australia on Day 5 of the recently-concluded series-deciding Test match at The Gabba.
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Cheteshwar Pujara was one of the architects of India’s recent 2-1 series win in Australia. The cricketer faced 211 balls to score just 56 runs as he wore out the Australian attack from his end of the crease on Day 5 of The Gabba thriller. However, Pujara was severely punished by the Australian pace trio for his stubborn resistance as he coped brutal blows to his hand, arm, chest and helmet on a rabid Day 5 pitch.
Cheteshwar Pujara on Day 5 of India vs Australia 4th Test 2021: watch video
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Cheteshwar Pujara reveals his batting plan against Australia by using boxing terms
Cheteshwar Pujara recently interacted with ESPNCricinfo. During the interview, he was asked to reveal the game plan he had against Australia on Day 5, as India were looking to chase down an improbable 328 to manufacture a rare Test and a series win Down Under. When asked whether he likes boxing, Pujara said that he is not a fan of the sport but he does not mind watching it from time to time.
The 33-year-old said that if he was a boxer, he would play the waiting game and see how many punches his opponent would throw at him. In legendary boxer Muhammad Ali’s style, Pujara added that he himself would start “punching back” once his opponent was worn out. The cricketer claimed that his game plan against Australia was the same as he was subjected to brutal body blows from Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc before notching up his match-winning Test fifty.
India vs Australia 4th Test 2021: Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant star in India’s victory; watch video
Cheteshwar Pujara Test career
The Cheteshwar Pujara Test career composes of some staggering numbers. The Gujarat-based cricketer has played 81 Tests since his international debut in 2010. Across 136 Test innings, the right-handed batsman has aggregated 6,111 runs at an average of 47.74 with 18 tons and 28 half-centuries. Pujara’s highest score in Tests is the 206* he scored against England in Ahmedabad back in November 2012.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s fighting 50 on Day 5 at The Gabba: watch video
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Cheteshwar Pujara in India vs England Test series
On January 19, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming India vs England Test series. Cheteshwar Pujara was included in the line-up along with captain Virat Kohli, who will be making a return after his paternity leave. They will also be joined by recent debutants Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar after their impressive outings in Australia. Here is a look at the entire Indian squad for the India vs England Test series.
TEAM - Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya (VC), KL Rahul, Hardik, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 19, 2021
Image source: BCCI Twitter
14:55 IST, January 29th 2021