Rated highly for his impeccable skills and unmatched determination - Cheteshwar Pujara is the backbone of Indian batting line-up when it comes to cricket's purest format. Since his debut in red ball cricket in 2010 versus Australia, the Rajkot-born batsman as grown leaps and bounds as his career progressed. With his outstanding technique and ability to bat for long hours without losing concentration, Pujara has been a thorn in the flesh of oppositions. With an impressive career average of more than 50 in Test cricket, Pujara is presently rated among the best number three batsmen in the world while playing in whites. Mostly compared with Rahul Dravid for his sheer sense of determination and will power to bat for long hours without breaking any sweat, Pujara has carved a niche for himself in the cricketing world. Despite being picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders in the first edition of Indian Premier League (2008), Pujara never managed to leave a mark in white ball cricket and largely due to his reputation as an exclusive Test player. After a forgettable tour to England in 2014/15, the right-handed batsman spent some extended sessions in English County cirucit with teams - Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. Major teams: India, Derbyshire, India A, India Green, India Under-19s, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Nottinghamshire, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Saurashtra, Saurashtra Under-16s, Saurashtra Under-19s, Yorkshire Playing role: Top-order batsman Batting style: Right-hand bat Bowling style: Legbreak
Read MoreIn the final session on Sunday, Pujara pulled a short delivery from off-spinner Bess but the shot got deflected off the back of the short-leg fielder.
Rajkot-born Pujara proved to be Australia’s nemesis yet again in the recent four-match series Down Under, scoring three half-centuries but more importantly consuming over 900 balls.
The 31-year-old stood batsman like a rock through the series, quite literally in the final Test in Brisbane, where he took multiple blows on the body to keep a relentless Australian attack at bay.
The Gujarat batsman, 33, has played five ODIs for India, making his last appearance in the fifty-over format in 2014 against Bangladesh.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli wished Cheteshwar Pujara a happy birthday on Monday morning as the Indian Test specialist turned 33 on the day.
Pujara played a key role in helping India draw the third Test at Sydney and in Australia's defeat in the fourth and final Test at the Gabba.
Pujara explains why he purposely let the ball hit his body as Pat Cummins made things difficult for him in the middle with his short deliveries.
Pujara coped with two scary bouncers during the match, one hitting him in the back head while the other rattling the cage in front.
Cheteshwar Pujara sustained a number of body-blows, and was hit on the helmet twice (so far!) on the final day of the Brisbane Test.
The fans were torn over the DRS ruling on Cheteshwar Pujara during the final day of the Brisbane Test.
Smith (900 points) is placed second behind New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (919) with Kohli at third with 870 points.
The trio of Pujara, Pant and Ashwin navigated through a hostile Australian bowling attack on the final day to snatch a remarkable draw against the home team.
Cheteshwar Pujara fell after a valiant 77 off 206 deliveries on Day 5 of the Sydney Test.
In a hot pursuit to chase down a record 407-run target in Sydney Test, the Indian batting mainstay breached the milestone while hitting his first half-century in the second innings in six years.
Pujara scored a half-century off 176 balls, the slowest in his Test career, during which India went from 70 to 195. But questions have been raised on his "intent" yet again.
Pujara's slowest Test half-century, a painstaking 50 off 176 balls handed Australia control of the match in which they now have overall lead of 197 runs.
Pujara has managed to score just 113 in five innings so far at an average of 22.6
Cheteshwar Pujara grinded his way to a 176-ball 50 but kept India in the game during the first session as he shared a 53-run fifth-wicket partnership with Rishabh Pant.
The world's number one bowler returned fine figures of 4/29 and dismissed Pujara, who had been a thorn in Australia's flesh during the 2018-19 series, for the fourth time in the ongoing rubber.
Cheteshwar Pujara scored 50 off 176 deliveries in the first innings of the Sydney Test.
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