England vs India: Under-pressure Pujara’s 50 reveals there’s nonetheless room in Tests for stubborn batting

About six years in the past, when Anil Kumble was India’s head coach, he was requested about Cheteshwar Pujara’s strike charge at a press convention. The nice leg-spinner’s response was terse however significant: “For me, strike rate is meant for the bowlers.”

Pujara has all the time been an outlier in a cricket world dominated by alpha males. He is old-school, wears down the bowlers and stroke-making just isn’t his forte. He has survived on the highest stage this manner, enjoying 96 Tests and scoring practically 7,000 runs, together with 18 a whole lot.

But the Edgbaston Test was completely different. He was enjoying for his profession and didn’t have the licence to fail. In the ultimate over of the third day, when he reached his half-century by taking a single off Joe Root, former England off-spinner Graeme Swann, now a pundit for the host broadcaster, described it as an “Excellent innings.”

A affected person half-century from Cheteshwar Pujara 👏#WTC23 | #ENGvIND | https://t.co/wMZK8kesdD pic.twitter.com/me80dNan6h

— ICC (@ICC) July 3, 2022

Amid the hullabaloo round England’s Bazball and a scintillating Rishabh Pant century within the first innings, Pujara stayed true to his sport. Barring a number of uncomfortable moments initially, allowed on a pitch with steep bounce and the circumstances helping nip, he was like a brick wall. James Anderson and firm tried all the pieces, however there was the Indian wall which repelled them. Pujara’s 50 not out off 139 balls got here at a strike charge of 35.97. It blunted the hosts’ comeback try. In the three-Test collection towards New Zealand that preceded the continued sport at Edgbaston, England had chased down 300-ish fourth-innings targets for enjoyable. From India’s perspective, it was crucial to slam the door shut on them. Pujara did it by dint of his method and character. Little marvel then that coach Rahul Dravid’s applause was exaggerated when Pujara reached his half-century.

Pujara was dropped for the house Test collection towards Sri Lanka earlier this yr. Unlike Ajinkya Rahane, who selected the IPL, he quietly went to Sussex, scored 720 runs in eight innings, together with 4 a whole lot, and compelled his means again to the Test staff. As Rohit Sharma contracted Covid and missed the sport, Pujara was requested to open the innings. Forever a staff man, he agreed, understanding full effectively that this Test may effectively be his final. After getting out cheaply within the first innings, strain elevated. As issues stand, Pujara will probably be a part of the two-Test collection towards Bangladesh early subsequent yr if he stays match. He inches nearer to the 100-Test membership.

A relaxed, composed and gritty Fifty, simply the way in which #Pujara loves 😌
Can he go large and put #StaffIndia within the driver’s seat? 🤝🏽

Tune in to Sony Six (ENG), Sony Ten 3 (HIN) & Sony Ten 4 (TAM/TEL) – (https://t.co/tsfQJW6cGi)#ENGvINDLIVEonSonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/jd83OfOYEF

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 3, 2022

After the New Zealand collection, England head coach Brendon McCullum was requested if the times of stubborn Test batsmen are over. “I haven’t really thought too much about that. I just look at the players we have got and I think they fit the bill for what we are trying to achieve and the style we want to play. It’s probably not what we are after. I’m happy with what we have got at the moment anyway,” McCullum had stated.

Pujara offered the reply, on a day when Kevin Pietersen known as out Ben Stokes on Sky Sports commentary for “devaluing his Test wicket.” Bazball might be the newest fad however the golden rule of Test batting, particularly for a top-order batsman, stays unchanged. Just {that a} participant needs to be technically adequate to play the ready sport.