Cheteshwar Pujara: India's Modern Wall in Test Cricket
Cheteshwar Pujara has been India's most patient Test batter since Dravid's retirement. His ability to absorb deliveries and tire bowlers was critical in India's 2018-19 Australia series win and the 2021 Gabba victory.
Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara from Rajkot, Gujarat, has been India's most dependable Test batter in the middle-order since Rahul Dravid's retirement in 2012. He bats at No. 3 with extreme patience and an uncanny ability to face deliveries without getting out, tiring bowlers and creating platforms for more attacking batters above and below him.
Australia 2018-19
Pujara's defining series came in Australia in 2018-19 — India's first-ever Test series win on Australian soil. He scored 521 runs at 74.43 across the 4-Test series, including 193 at Sydney. Crucially, he faced 1,258 balls in the series — absorbing the Australian attack, particularly Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, for hours and leaving opportunities for India's bowlers to dismiss Australia cheaply.
Gabba 2021
In India's historic Gabba win of January 2021, Pujara played arguably his most courageous innings — 56 off 211 balls, taking multiple blows to the body from Australian pace bowlers. He absorbed the hardest bowling to allow Rishabh Pant to chase freely from the other end. Pujara was hit by short balls multiple times and refused to yield — his mental fortitude was as important as Pant's attacking flair.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Pujara compared to Rahul Dravid?
Both play the No. 3 role for India in Tests with extreme patience and defensive technique, absorbing bowling attacks to protect more aggressive batters. Both earned the nickname 'The Wall'.
What is Pujara's highest Test score?
206 not out vs England at Ahmedabad in 2012.