In the grand tapestry of Indian cricket, few batting positions carry the weight of tradition and responsibility quite like the number three spot. It is the anchor’s role, the bridge between the volatility of the opening exchange and the solidity required to steer the innings into calm waters. For over a decade, that position was synonymous with Rahul Dravid – the “Wall,” who embodied patience, resilience, and dependability. When Dravid’s illustrious career drew to a close, the void at number three seemed daunting, almost impossible to fill. Yet, into that gap stepped Cheteshwar Pujara, a batsman whose temperament, technique, and unflinching resolve mirrored the values Dravid had instilled in the role. With quiet determination rather than flamboyance, Pujara inherited the responsibility of becoming India’s anchor abroad and at home, carrying forward the legacy of stability and assurance that the team so critically depended on.
Technique and Temperament: Hallmarks of Pujara
At a time when run rates became increasingly glamorous in Test cricket, Pujara represented an old-school purity of batting. His technique, rooted in strong defense and compact stroke-making, allowed him to frustrate world-class bowling attacks into submission. But what truly set him apart was his temperament – the willingness to occupy the crease for hours, absorb pressure, and turn patience into a weapon. This endurance wasn’t just personal virtue, it embodied the larger cause of giving India stability when most needed.
Grit Abroad: Pujara the Overseas Warrior
If cricket truly tests a batter away from home, Pujara proved his worth in some of India’s greatest overseas triumphs. In Australia, during the historic 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar series win, he faced over 1,200 deliveries – the most by an Indian in a single Test series – anchoring batting efforts with marathon knocks that drew comparisons to Dravid himself. His ability to wear down opposition pace attacks, often braving blows to the body, became symbolic of India’s fighting spirit.
Courage in the Face of Fire
In the iconic Sydney Test of 2021, Pujara wore over 10 body blows from Australian quicks while scoring 77 off 205 balls. This innings wasn’t about runs but about absorbing punishment for the team’s cause, an embodiment of sacrifice and stoicism.
Such efforts made him the heartbeat of India’s sensational 2-1 series win in Australia (2020-21) despite not being the highest run-scorer.
The Unwavering Anchor at Home
On Indian soil, where spinners come into play, Pujara’s game flourished with equal assurance. His mastery of strike rotation, ability to smother turn, and patience to grind through spin-friendly surfaces made him invaluable. Time and again, he played the role of glue – ensuring India’s top order didn’t unravel under pressure and building the platform for the more flamboyant batsmen around him to flourish.
The Challenges and the Criticism
Yet, Pujara’s story has not been without trials. His strike rate and inability to accelerate at times drew criticism in an era that increasingly celebrated aggression. There were calls for him to reinvent his game, and phases when he found himself out of the side. However, those who understood the nuances of Test cricket recognized the rarity of his type, a batter who valued time in the middle and had the courage to persist with his own brand of batting, even when the game tilted toward impatience.
The Keeper of the Flame
In inheriting the number three mantle, Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t just fill a void; he protected a legacy. At a time when cricket was in flux, with shorter formats dictating tempo, he stood tall as a reminder of what Test cricket demanded – discipline, patience, and grit. While Rahul Dravid built the Wall, Pujara fortified it for a new era, ensuring that India’s batting heart remained unbroken. For generations of Indian fans, his contributions will remain more than a collection of runs – they will be remembered as a masterclass in perseverance.
In a nutshell, While others painted the masterpieces, Pujara was the silent architect who prepared the canvas, the unyielding bedrock upon which India’s greatest overseas victories were built. His heroism is undeniable precisely because it was selfless, a quiet, unwavering commitment to the collective cause that elevated an entire team and immortalized the timeless, warrior virtues of Test cricket itself.
(Image source- Twitter/ X dxp)
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