Cheteshwar Pujara has grown by strength to strength since his Test debut in 2010 and forms a formidable backbone of the Indian batting unit. He has been an architect of numerous improbable triumphs for India in recent times.
Even the historic series victory against Australia in 2018-19 was built on the crux of Pujara’s sheer grit and indefatigability. For all the spotlights that Virat Kohli enjoyed, the Saurashtra-lad came as a quiet revelation and made the series his own.
And now, when the Indian team will travel to Australia later this year, all eyes would be on Pujara. However, the series starts not before December, and there’s too much time for the right-handed batsman in between to prepare well.
In the meantime, Pujara appeared in a chat show with Harsha Bhogle on Cricbuzz where he was asked to pick his ‘World Test XI’.
For the opening position, the 32-years-old paired David Warner with someone who has rarely opened the innings for his side. He chose Kane Williamson as the next opener in his team.
Pujara reasoned that he picked Williamson to rope in too many big names since he doesn’t want to miss any of the world-class players.
The dashing right-hander positioned himself at No. 3 while the likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Ben Stokes followed him in that sequence.
New Zealand’s BJ Watling was chosen for wicket-keeping duty while Pujara picked his colleague Ravichandran Ashwin as the lone spinner in the playing XI.
The trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada spearheaded the pace attack in Pujara’s team.
For the twelfth man, Pujara preferred Ravindra Jadeja in the home condition while Mohammad Shami for matches in SENA( South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s World Test XI:
David Warner, Kane Williamson, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, BJ Watling, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah
