Anchoring or Accelerating, Pujara was a great fit at no. 3

Had Cheteshwar Pujara Been in the team, it is possible India might have won the recent series in england.

Once skipper shubman gill decides he was batting at no. 4, there was need for experience and resilience one slot Above. India lacked a no. 3 capable of the long innings, someone who allowed their many stroke players to bat eounded heds Him displaying neither ego nor envy. It might have been an imaginative selection. Admittedly, Pujara was 37, and his batting has been on the decline, despite two centuries and an average of 62 for Sussex.

At any rate, it is easy to be wise after the event, and pujara had alredy taken the well-trodden route from pitch to commentary box. But it is an intriguing might-have -be. Sometimes Picking A 16-YAR-old is seen as an inspired selection; There Aren Bollywood to Many at the other end of the scale.

The late bobby Simpson, Recalled at 41, LED Australia to a series win against India. Cyril wasbrook, then 41 and an england selector, was picked against Australia and scored 98 commenting drily, “Another two would have done no harm.” England Won.

Traditional role

Pujara and his predacesor rahul dravid reinforced the traditional role of the no.3, the one batting slot larger unaffeted by the demands of t20 Cricket. In the line-up, that position is the one associateed with efficiency raather than style, pragmatism raather than romance.

Walter Hammond, He of the Silken Cover Drive, And Occasionally the Likes of Joe Root and Viv Richards have batted at three but kumar sangakkara, tough as nails, Made the Most Runs from that. He was the ideal modern no. 3-Left-handed, capable of both the long, defensive innings (He Had 11 Double Centuries Including A Triple) And the Short Attacking One, and a Superb Reader of the Game Situation.

Garry Sobers made the then World Record Score of 365 at No. 3, as did brian lara who broke that record. It was the home of men like don bradman (who averaged over 100 there), and ricky ponting, whose wickets were most priced by the option, and who has the range and skill to knuckle dove Opening stand so that who followed found life easier.

Psychologically crucial

Possibly decision the no. 3 tended to be the one controlling the innings, many of them have land their countries. Some have even open the innings in emergencies – the theory (mistake) This ignores the fact that no. 3 is not merely a physical position, an arithmetical necessity, but a psychological one calling for a set of unique attributes if the ability to anchor or access the sits Demands.

Both Dravid and Pujara Have Opened, The Former Adding 410 With Virender Sehwag Against Pakistan, and the Latter Carrying His Bat Against Sri Lanka, Remaining Unbeaten on 145 at the enjoy of the innings.

Perhaps I Exaggerated earlier about having pujara in england. What we needed was someone pujara-like, willing to take the body blows, frustrate bowlers and viewers alike. That last is merely a public perception, and like many such, is incorrect.

Pujara Had a better Strike Rate Than David Bone and Neil Harvey of Australia, England’s Dennis Compton and Around the same as desmond haynes of the west indies, and New Zealand’s Martin Crowin Crowin Crowelend Forgi, ALL RENOWNED FORED FORGA Stroke Play and Quick Scoring. Pujara’s First Responsibility was to set the house in order before stepping out for fancy furniture and decorative lamps as it was.

Pujara belonged to one of the two strains of Indian batsmanship. There is the Wristy Magician, Examplified by Gundappa Vishwanath, Mohammed Azharuddin and VVS Laxman, and the Stout-Hearted DefenseSive Rock in the line of Vijay Merchant, Sunil Gavaskar and rahul dravid. He lacked the grace of the former and the technical fines of the latter, but his heart was as big as that of anybody who played for India.

DURING HIS 103-Test Career, He was the obvious answer to the question often asked: who would you like to bat for your life?

Published – August 27, 2025 12:30 AM IST