Though Cheteshwar Pujara attracted huge praise from pundits for his 72 in India's successful run chase against Australia, his Saurashtra Ranji Trophy coach Debu Mitra is not too pleased.
Though Cheteshwar Pujara attracted huge praise from pundits for his 72 in India's successful run chase against Australia, his Saurashtra Ranji Trophy coach Debu Mitra is not too pleased.
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| Cheteshwar Pujara is delighted after his fifty |
Pujara succumbed to a ball which kept low from paceman Mitchell Johnson in the first innings which was unfortunate, but the young batsman could have gone all the way in yesterday's second dig, felt Mitra.
The one-drop batsman (promoted ahead of regular No 3 and his idol Rahul Dravid) had scored 72 off 89 balls before allowing a straighter one from off-spinner Nathan Hauritz to disturb his furniture. "Cheteshwar was out in a very bad way. I didn't expect that from him. He was playing such a beautiful knock, a century was there for the taking," said Mitra. The right-hander will have to justify his dismissal when the coach meets him next.
Recalling Pujara's early days, Mitra said, "I first saw him in the 2004-05 season and immediately played him in the Saurashtra Ranji side. I was always fond of his batting, and knew he would make it.
"He called me the night before the Bangalore Test to seek my advice. I told him to keep a cool head and play his natural game. I know how hard he has worked for this moment. He deserves the accolades," Mitra concluded.
