Cheteshwar Pujara returned to form in the previous innings and scored his fastest Test fifty outside India. Playing in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test match between the Indian cricket team and the South African cricket team, Pujara scored a brisk 53 to help the Indian cricket team set a competitive total for the home side in the second innings.
Prior to the second innings, many fans and critics questioned Cheteshwar Pujara’s place in the playing XI because he has not been at his best in the longest format of the game for quite some time. The right-handed batter has not scored a single Test century in the last two years. Besides, he has gotten out cheaply on some occasions when the team needed him the most.
Speaking to media after the fourth day of the second match of the ICC World Test Championship series between the Indian cricket team and the South African cricket team, Cheteshwar Pujara reacted to the criticism and said:
“Yes, there are times when you are going through bad form, there will be questions but we are confident players. Myself and Ajinkya and we know we are working hard on our game and there’s a saying form is temporary but class is permanent and it applies here.”
Cheteshwar Pujara is likely to continue batting in the top-order for the next Test match
With a half-century in the second innings of the Johannesburg match of the ICC World Test Championship series between the Indian cricket team and the South African cricket team, Pujara has seemingly saved his spot in the team for the upcoming matches. The Saurashtra batter will continue to bat at the number three position.
The Indian cricket team will play three more Test matches before IPL 2022. After the Johannesburg Test match, the Indian cricket team will play the final match of the ICC World Test Championship series against the South African cricket team. After that, they will host the Sri Lankan cricket team for an ICC World Test Championship series at home. After IPL 2022, India will head to England for the rescheduled fifth Test.
