VVS Laxman heaps praises on Cheteshwar Pujara; says he was the difference between the two sides

For the first time in their cricket history, India won the first Test of a series in Australia. Virat Kohli & Co. beat the hosts by 31 runs to go 1-0 up in the four-match series. Contrary to the popular speculations, the visitors did not register a comfortable win but did just enough to end up on the winning side.

With Australia without Steve Smith and David Warner, not many had given the team from Down Under a chance to challenge the world number one Test side. However, the hosts proved to be more than a handful for the visitors in their own backyard. In fact, Tim Paine & Co. gave India a mighty scare before the Indian bowlers proved their class and bagged the thriller.

With momentum on India’s side, former India batsman VVS Laxman feels the time is right to deliver a knockout blow in the series. “India justified the favourite tag bestowed upon them at the start of the series, though the flatness and slowness of the drop-in surface on the final day produced a 31-run margin that was too close for my comfort,” he wrote in his column for the Times of India.

Laxman further wrote that Australia will be under more pressure after losing despite India not being at their best. “While this wasn’t a complete performance, the fact that they have secured victory in the first Test will add to Australia’s woes. It is clear, for obvious reasons, this Australian side is somewhat lacking in quality. That they have gone 0-1 down, and therefore have to play catch-up, will increase the pressure on the hosts,” Laxman wrote.

“The door is open for the No. 1 side in the world to step in and deliver the knockout blow. Great teams focus inwards rather than on the opposition, which is exactly what Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri will be telling the boys,” he added.

Well, with form and momentum on their side, India will be bracing up to create history Down Under. In the last 11 series, India never managed to win a series in Australia. Their best result till date is the 1-1 draw that came in 2003-04. Laxman was a part of that series and had played several crucial knocks.

High praise for Cheteshwar Pujara

The legendary batsman also hailed Cheteshwar Pujara who top-scored in both the innings which ultimately made the difference in the game. In the first innings, India were reeling at 41 for 4. However, Pujara held firm from one end and scored 123 to take the team to a respectable 250. In the second innings, he played a crucial hand of 71 as India posted a challenging total.

“The difference between the two teams was the admirable Cheteshwar Pujara who was impressive in so many different ways at the Adelaide Oval. I loved the way he eschewed the drive on the first morning even as wickets tumbled around him, and focussed on playing square of the wicket, thereby eliminating undue risks,” Laxman opined.

Laxman further hailed Pujara’s style of play and his meticulous preparation for Australia tour. “I watched with admiration the manner in which he farmed the strike at the fall of Ashwin’s wicket, keeping the lower-order off the firing line and playing strokes like the uppercut or the pull that aren’t necessarily associated with Pujara. That shows that he had set his plans in place before coming to Australia, and prepared accordingly.

“I enjoyed his tactical brilliance in negating the threat of Nathan Lyon landing the ball in the rough by consistently using his feet, not always to play strokes. By throwing Lyon off this rhythm, Pujara then opened up other scoring possibilities off the back foot, another tick in the box for enterprise and intelligence. He showed what wonders commitment, application and drive can achieve, and I am sure his colleagues who played extravagant strokes on Day One will take a leaf out of his book,” Laxman added.

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~Written by Bijoy