Vijay-Pujara pair: the silent contributors to Indian Test success
It was the Australia tour of India in 2010 and the visitors had set a target of 207 runs on a viciously turning Chinnaswamy track. Two newbies, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay, however, saw out the dangers on the track and forged a 72-run partnership for the third wicket taking India to victory.
The pair, who batted together for the first time in international cricket, would go on to add 2429 more runs in the next 36 innings to be the most successful pair for India in the period from 2010 to 2017.
Since the turn of the last decade, the Pujara-Vijay partnership alongside the colossal ones of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane has become a vital cog in India’s Test success. Meanwhile, the pair have racked up eight century partnerships and nine 50+ partnerships.
Yesterday, the duo gave another example of that amazing consistency by adding 178 runs off 301 balls for the second wicket in the first innings against Bangladesh. India were under pressure after losing KL Rahul’s wicket on 2, when the duo came together in the middle.
During the partnership, what kept everyone on the edge of their seat was the contrasting styles in which both the batsmen went about their business. While Vijay scored runs a little more aggressively, Pujara played the second fiddle before coming into his own. But they complemented each other- almost seamlessly. Together, they ensured India scored the runs comfortably while also frustrating the Bangladesh bowlers.
So, what has made them such a successful Test pair? Their batting techniques are technically pleasing and both of them value the importance of patience in the middle. And in addition to that, both have created reputations for being Test specialists, and are
“We really enjoy each other’s company out there in the middle and he has a solid game,” said Vijay. “He makes things easy for me and we both share a good rapport and that makes it easy inside.”
That rapport was in full view yesterday as they stole singles and couples- silently, yet judiciously. Vijay handled the short balls of Taskin Ahmed pretty easily, while Pujara took on the spinners’ loose deliveries. With a very good understanding, they continued piling on the runs.
Watching the duo together unfurling a Test innings of such magnificence was a poetry-in-motion. Both are batsmen in the classical mold, have very good feet movement and use that to good advantage against spinners and pacers alike.
Almost two years ago, in the 2014-15 series Down Under, the pair showcased unbelievable mental endurance to face the brutal new ball pair of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc. It, ultimately, opened the door for Virat Kohli to bat with more positive intent against a not-so-new ball. And it was not a one-off occurrence, rather one that has been the biggest positive to have come out for India since ages.
Before constructing an image of his own, for a long time, Pujara’s batting style wasn’t that technically perfect when you looked at him through the Dravid lens. But with the progression of time, he showcased that he is more than capable of handling the toughest bowlers and conditions. His innings goes through multiple momentum shifts in every match and as the innings progresses, that also gives Vijay, or any of his partners, the assurance to play his own game, without being worried about anything.
Similarly, for Vijay, Test cricket is all about class and timing. Initially, he had problems facing the outside-the-off-stump-deliveries, but he has eradicated that by working on it. Yesterday, he started in his usual fashion- slow and defensive, before unfurling some copyrighted pulls, and trademark drives.
“Earlier, I was playing balls that I should be leaving. That’s what I went back home and gave it thought and came back and played the way I would play rather than playing the situation. Rather than putting too much pressure on me. These are small things, which I rectified in the Mumbai Test (against England, when he scored 136 and India won by an innings and 36 runs).”
Vijay looks at the positives of playing only one format. "As I am playing one format of the game at the moment, I have got a decent idea about it and the hang of it," Vijay said. "I want to give as many consistent starts as possible, and be ready for my opportunity in other two formats as well."
The limited-over opportunities may not be that easy to come to both of them, given India’s power-packed batting order. But going by their level of patience and their constant push for improvement, no one should really be surprised if both of them find their way into the team for the shorter formats.
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