Watch: Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed by a beauty from Ajaz Patel, a delivery that spun away to rattle the India player’s off-stump on the first day of the second Test match between India and New Zealand.
Pujara was bowled for a five-ball duck by Ajaz Patel as he tried to come down the track and flick the second ball of the 30th over across the line, with his back leg remaining off the ground. However, the batter was left bamboozled as the ball dipped and spun away to hit his off-stump.
Stepping out to counter turn is a known approach for Pujara, one that he has excelled in in the past. A stat from CricViz after the Australia tour Down Under earlier this year showed his dominance. It stated that Pujara had been dismissed just three times after coming down the wicket in Test cricket, having done so 1132 times for a whopping average of 276.00.
After another epic series from Cheteshwar Pujara here is an update to one of our favourite stats in the @CricViz office.
Pujara Down the Track v Spin in Tests
Balls 1132
Runs 828
Wickets 3
Average 276.00 #AUSvIND— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 19, 2021
The No.3 averages 33.77 in 2021, with no centuries in 13 games, and will be under pressure to get a big score in the next innings.
