The curious case of Cheteshwar Pujara

Home Vs Away:

Pujara has been playing county cricket for Yorkshire

Pujara's real struggle was against South Africa early this year and in 6 innings, he just scored 100 runs at an average of 16.67, providing evidence that he struggled away from home.

Pujara no doubt has been scoring runs in heaps when he plays in India. An average of 62.42 in 56 innings with 10 centuries and 13 half centuries shows how well he has performed at home. However in 41 away Test innings, Pujara averages just 35.25 with 4 centuries. Pujara averages 15 in New Zealand, 22.20 in England and 33.50 in Australia without any century against them.

The road ahead

With the tough 5 match assignment against England in England, Pujara will have to score runs to cement his place in the Test team. With the likes of K. L. Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane fighting it hard for the number 3 position, Pujara will be tested against a strong English attack. He has been playing county cricket for almost 3 months and will be acclimatized to the English conditions.

Though Pujara has scored 4531 runs in 97 innings in 58 Tests at an average of 50.34, he has really struggled overseas and will have to score big runs in England and Australia this year to cement his place in the team.

As his mentor Rahul Dravid had rightly quoted “He will be the first Chateshwar Pujara and not the second Rahul Dravid”. India will be hoping that Pujara fills in the void which Rahul Dravid has left and will be one of the most successful No. 3 batsmen for India.