Image Credit – Cricinfo.
Venue – JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi [March 16-20, 2017].
The Indian Test team is going through a phase of transition as the legends and stalwarts of the game have bid farewell to the gentlemen's game. As a result, the team is struggling like never before. Yes. We did play well in England, but a home whitewash against the Proteas last winter did expose the cracks of our Test cricket. The bowlers are struggling to pick up 20 wickets, whereas the batsmen are struggling to bat for long.
The duo of Bumrah and Siraj do get us wickets in the overseas conditions, but the batting department lacks consistency on tough surfaces. Presently, the Indian team is in dire need of a proper Test cricket batsman who could bat for the entire day and take the pressure off his side. We desperately need someone like Dravid or Pujara who can take a Test match away from the opposition single-handedly. After all, who can ever forget Pujara's double hundred against the Aussies in Ranchi?
In the spring of 2017, Australia toured India to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Aussies won the first test at Pune, whereas the Indians won the second test at Bangalore. The series was 1-1 when both teams reached Ranchi for the penultimate test. Australian Captain Steve Smith won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a good batting surface.
The decision turned out to be a good one as the visitors piled up 451 runs in their first innings. Steve Smith played a captain's knock (178*), whereas Maxwell also scored a gritty 104 as Indian bowlers went for runs. In response, Hosts were 328/6 when keeper Wriddhiman Saha joined Pujara in between. The match was on a knife-edge. One more wicket and Aussies would have bowled us out in no time.
But this is when Pujara showed his class and played one of the exceptional Test knocks. Pujara batted for more than 11 hours (672 minutes) and scored a magnificent double-hundred (202). It is pertinent to note that Pujara faced a total of 525 deliveries, which makes around 87.3 overs. Along with Saha, who also scored a wonderful hundred, Pujara stitched a partnership of 199 runs as the Indians took a vital first innings lead.
The test match, however, ended in a draw. But it is pertinent to note that if Pujara had not scored that double hundred, we would not have reached the total of 602/9. It was due to the monumental efforts of Pujara that we remained in the test match. The modern Indian Test team needs someone like Pujara who could bat the entire day and take the attack to the opposition with solid defence and stroke play.
The art of defending is vital for survival and excellence in Test cricket. One could only hope that after Dravid and Pujara we will get our next wall very soon.
To watch the Innings of Pujara, Click Here-
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