Cheteshwar Pujara is a cricketing icon in India, particularly in the context of the Test format. The legend recently completed his 100th Test and has been an integral part of the team’s success. He is a traditional, old-school Test match batsman whose focus and persistence are unrivalled in this age of flashy T20 batsmen.
Pujara has shown grit and determination over the years, as evidenced by his string of hundreds and game-winning performances. However, he still has some work with regard to hitting sixes. It’s rare for Pujara to smash a six. However, Pujara has, at various times in his career, dominated some very good bowlers.
1. Against Nathan Lyon
Cheteshwar Pujara hit off-spinner Nathan Lyon for six during India’s innings of the current Test match against Australia in Indore. Lyon finished with eight wickets in the innings. Pujara left his crease, moved up to where the ball was pitched and hit it hard over the midwicket fielder’s head. Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, was visibly pleased with the six.
2. Against Mitchell Starc
Cheteshwar Pujara scored 123 runs in a sensational performance as India beat Australia in the first Test of the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide. He hit a six off a wide and short ball from Mitchell Starc during the innings. This ball was just begging to be hit hard, so he did the deed by smashing it away through a backward point.
3. Against Brett Lee
In the 2012 edition of the Indian Premier League, while playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Pujara smashed a six against the legendary Australian fast bowler Brett Lee. When he executed an uppercut, the ball went sailing over Manvinder Bisla’s head, the wicketkeeper.
4. Against Adil Rashid
Pujara reached his century by hitting a six against spin bowler Adil Rashid in the second game of a four-game series against England in 2016. The ball was short and loose, and he gave it precisely what it required. This was his second six of the inning, an extremely uncommon sight.
5. Against Josh Hazlewood
Without a sense of timing, Pujara pulled Josh Hazlewood’s delivery in the Adelaide Test of the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and sent it sailing over the boundaries for six. He swung across and tried to hit the ball, but it bounced too high for him to handle.
