Amid India's faltering performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, cricketing stalwarts Sunil Gavaskar and Justin Langer have reignited discussions on the critical need for resilient and gritty batsmen like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.The duo were crucial to India’s historic series win in Australia during the 2020-21 tour.
Reflecting on their contributions, Gavaskar highlighted Rahane's leadership and Pujara’s tenacity. "That came after India were dismissed for 36 on the third day of day and night first test in Adelaide on December 19, 2020. To be able to lift not just himself (Rahane), but the whole team by leading from the front – that’s what it’s all about," Gavaskar said at stumps on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
He credited Rahane and Pujara as the backbone of the team’s remarkable turnaround, calling Pujara "the immovable rock" who showed unmatched patience and determination.
"Pujara never got bored of batting. Sometimes it felt like, even in his dreams, he was still batting," Gavaskar quipped. He further noted the synergy between the two, explaining how Pujara’s resilience complemented Rahane’s flair. "When you’re a stroke player like Rahane, you want someone solid at the other end. That solidity was Pujara."
Langer echoed Gavaskar’s sentiments, reminiscing about Pujara’s unyielding resolve that unsettled Team Australia. "To this day, four years later, I still wake up in my sleep thinking about Pujara," Langer admitted. "As a coach, you don’t lose to India in Australia, and it’s Pujara batting, batting, batting. I wake up almost in a sweat."
Langer described Pujara as a "warrior" who epitomised patience and discipline, qualities that are conspicuously missing from India’s current lineup.
India’s current struggles highlight the absence of a player like Pujara who can anchor the innings and complement the team’s aggressive stroke players, such as Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Rohit Sharma. Without a solid foundation, the team has frequently suffered batting collapses and failed to build partnerships capable of wearing down opposition attacks.
Players like Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Reddy offer versatility but lack the unshakeable focus required to play marathon knocks. This has underscored the importance of a player who can dig in, absorb pressure, and grind out runs in challenging conditions.
The ongoing series serves as a stark reminder of how Pujara’s painstakingly long innings were instrumental in scripting some of India’s most iconic wins. As India looks to recover from its current predicament, the void left by Pujara’s absence looms large, amplifying calls for a return to grit and stability in the team’s batting approach. (UNI)
