The backbone of India’s Test batting Cheteshwar Pujara celebrates his 33rd birthday today. In the last decade, Pujara has played several special knocks for team India in whites. The one thing that stands out about Pujara’s batting is he always puts a prize on his wicket and even after taking body blows never gives his wicket away.
On Pujara’s birthday, we recall the time when Australia tried sledging him in a witty manner during the historic 2018-2019 Test series. In the first Test match at Adelaide, the hosts were at the top as India lost 4 wickets early but Pujara again batted like a true ‘warrior’.
Cheteshwar Pujara celebrates his 33rd Birthday today
Eventually, Pujara scored the most Test runs in the series and was adjudged the player of the series. After the conclusion of the series, Pujara revived and spoke about his favourite sledging incident during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The brave Indian batsman revealed that in the last Test match at Sydney off-spinner Nathan Lyon came to him and asked aren’t you bored of batting yet?
“There were many instances but I remember the first Test. Nathan Lyon and Tim Paine tried to sledge me. They almost felt that the game was over when we were 40 for four, they thought that we’ll be bowled out for 150-160”, Pujara said.
“And even, later on, I think in the third or fourth Test, they were trying to sledge me but at the same time, they started laughing in the end. Lyon came and told me: ‘Aren’t you bored of batting now? You’ve scored so many runs”, Pujara added.
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Meanwhile, Pujara completely dominated Australia in the 2018-2019 series and played a key role in helping India win a Test series in Australia for the first time. Even in recently concluded Test series against Australia, Pujara again showed his class and stood firm against a quality pace attack.
In the decisive Test at Brisbane, Australia kept bowling short balls at Pujara but the India batsman was unfazed and kept tiring the bowlers. He made an unforgettable 50 in the final innings as India won the Test and the series by 2-1 again in Australia.
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