Test match IND vs AUS series is one of cricket’s most eagerly awaited fixtures. India and Australia have plenty of history, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy could be a thrilling series. Cheteshwar Pujara could emerge as India’s top performer in the four-match series beginning on February 9 at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
Test Match IND Vs AUS – Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara has been India’s ‘wall’ in Test cricket ever since Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from international cricket. The Rajkot-born cricketer played an instrumental role in India’s success in Test cricket in the last decade. Walking into bat at No 3, Pujara steadied the ship innumerable times. He has scored 7014 runs in his Test career.
Records held by Cheteshwar Pujara
- Most balls faced by an Indian cricketer in a Test innings – 525 balls
- Highest second-innings score in Tests by an Indian cricketer in South Africa – 153
- Most runs by an Indian against Australia in Test cricket among active cricketers – 1893 runs
2010 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
In the 2010 Test match IND vs AUS series, Cheteshwar Pujara made his international debut. The then 22-year-old, who made just four runs in the first innings, struck a match-winning 72 in India’s run chase of 207 at Chinnaswamy Stadium. The hosts won the two-match series 2-0, and Pujara made a huge impression.
2013 Test Match IND Vs AUS Series
Pujara failed to make it to the next edition of India vs Australia Test series, in which India suffered a 0-4 thrashing. A year later, the ‘Che’ was India’s second-leading run-scorer in the home series against the Aussies. He struck a double hundred in Hyderabad and finished the four-match series with 419 runs.
2018-19 Series
After a disappointing outing with the bat in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Pujara proved his detractors wrong in the 2018-19 series. He started the series with a hundred and a half-century in the first Test. India won the match, and the gritty batter received the ‘Man of the Match’ award.
Two Hundreds & Player of the Series
He scored 193 – the highest score away from India – in the first innings of the final Test, which ended in a draw and ensured India’s first Test series win in Australia.
Pujara won the ‘Player of the Series’ award after becoming the highest run-getter – 521 runs at an average of 74. Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli scored a hundred each, while no Australian batter registered a three-figure score in the series.
2020-21 Series
Despite not hitting the same heights of 2018-19 series, Pujara made valuable contributions in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He struck three half-centuries in the last two Test matches of the series. India managed to play out a draw in the third Test and grabbed a memorable win in the fourth Test. Under stand-in captain Rahane, India won a second successive series in Australia.
Cheteshwar Pujara Test Match IND vs AUS Stats:
Innings: 37, Runs: 1893, Average: 54, Highest Score: 204, 50s/100s: 10/5
Cheteshwar Pujara County Stats 2022
The 35-year-old had a wonderful time in County Championship Division Two last year. With 1094 runs in 13 innings, Cheteshwar Pujara was the leading scorer among overseas batters in England’s top first-class cricket championship. He scored three double tons – 201*, 203, and 231 and averaged 109.40 in the Championship. The Indian batter carried his form into the Royal London One-Day cup – three centuries scored and made 624 runs.
Pujara Last CenturyCheteshwar Pujara ended a three-year century drought in Test cricket after scoring an unbeaten 102 against Bangladesh in Chittagong in December 2022. It was his first hundred since the 193 against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2019. Pujara has scored 19 Test centuries and will be keen to add more to his tally in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Test match IND vs AUS series will be a treat for cricket fans. Australia produced ruthless performances against West Indies and South Africa at home. On the other hand, India blanked Bangladesh recently. Who will have the last laugh in the IND vs AUS Test series?
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