Who Will Be Pujara In Aus?

Veteran batter was crucial in India's dominance Down Under in the past two campaigns

- GOMESH S

IF the first indication of the Indian summer Down Under came as front pages of newspapers decorated by Virat Kohli with Hindi headlines earlier this week, the second one hasn't taken long. India are training at the WACA Stadium, with the viewing points and fences, reportedly, covered with black shade. They do not want the Australian media, or anyone else, to get a glimpse of the training methods and plans and with good reason.

This is nothing new. India have a few days of closed-door training in Chennai before their home season began as well. However, even as Gautam Gambhir and the senior players get ready for the biggest challenge they have in front of them, the Australian dressing room will breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they do not have to go up against one player - Cheteshwar Pujara.

For the better part of the last decade, the biggest thorn in their flesh, the most tiresome opponent they have faced is not Virat Kohli nor Rohit Sharma or Joe Root. It is this quite unassuming old-fashioned Test batter - Pujara. Ask the likes of Josh Hazlewood who on multiple occasions has expressed the feeling of running in and bowling to Pujara in white. In fact, the upcoming one will be the first time Hazlewood is playing India in a Test series where he will not have to bowl to Pujara. To understand the significance of it, all one has to do is look at numbers.