England vs India, 4th Test: Fans Compare Cheteshwar Pujara With Rahul Dravid Following Heroic Knock

Ever since he made his Test debut for India, Cheteshwar Pujara was considered as the next big thing in Indian cricket and was cited as an ideal replacement for veteran Rahul Dravid in the longest format of the game. Ahead of the fourth Test and penultimate against England at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, Pujara didn’t have a great record in English conditions.

The top-order batsman Pujara had just got back to form with a gritty half-century in the last match. However, he didn’t look anywhere close to his best. Hence he needed a big knock to get settled at the crease.

He waged a lone battle as wickets kept falling around him on a consistent basis in Southampton. India got off to a brisk start courtesy opening batsmen KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan. However, both returned to a pavilion in quick time that put India in a spot of bother.

However, it was skipper Virat Kohli and Pujara who resurrected the innings with a brilliant 92 runs stand. Both played some excellent shots and never looked in any discomfort what so ever.

However, it was Sam Curran, the young 20-year-old left-arm seamer who had other ideas. He induced a false shot from the Indian skipper which was safely taken by Alastair Cook in the slip cordon.

From there on, wickets kept falling on a consistent basis. Ajinkya Rahane went back to the pavilion after scoring 11. However from there on it was a procession of sorts. Moeen Ali ran through the lower order as he reduced India to 195 for eight.

England Vs India: Cheteshwar Pujara batted brilliantly with the tail-enders; fans compare him with Rahul Dravid

It was indeed a precarious situation where India found themselves in. With 51 runs behind, India was looking down the barrel and looked like conceding a 30-40 runs lead to the hosts.

However, Pujara batted quite superbly with Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah which ensured India eventually took a vital 27 runs lead.

Going against his natural game, Pujara played quite a few aerial shots to get the runs on the board. He stepped out to Stuart broad to hit one delivery over the deep mid wicket region.

It was an exceptional display by patient Chesteshwar Pujara against England. He batted through the innings for India which led to comparisons with Rahul Dravid who did a similar kind of a thing back in 2011. However, he was unable to save India from the blushes.

Then Legend Dravid , Now Pujara ji

What an innings @cheteshwar1 #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/K3NbpIl5Fe

— BHUBANANANDA NAYAK ?? (@bhubana_nanda) August 31, 2018

Then it was Rahul Dravid
Now it's Cheteswar Pujara… pic.twitter.com/NlRZv5DFvc

— Subrat (@ImSubrat100) August 31, 2018

Anybody else see a DRAVID in there. Stellar knock by Pujara!
Unbeaten 132* #JustSaying#EngVsInd#Pujara pic.twitter.com/z67x9L7WmY

— Natheem Irfan (@irfannathi) August 31, 2018

https://twitter.com/seth_raunaq/status/1035578464177254400

Not dravid the wall,
it's pujara the pillar ?#ENGvIND #pujara pic.twitter.com/O40V0RP3J5

— श्वसन_चिकित्सक (@dr_kalariya) August 31, 2018

https://twitter.com/graphicalcomic/status/1035589819106316290

https://twitter.com/Jus_Yogi/status/1035585411047800832

@cheteshwar1 ने अपने आलोचकों को जवाब देते हुए साबित कर दिया कि वो हैं टीम इंडिया की दूसरी दीवार। वेलडन भारतीय क्रिकेट के दूसरे 'राहुल द्रविड़' pic.twitter.com/EuxZktNBFv

— kpkalal239@gmail.com (@kpkalal239) September 1, 2018