Sourav Ganguly feels that Cheteshwar Pujara plays crucial role in India’s overseas tours

India’s Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara is the man of the moment for two reasons – not only did he score a scintillating century in his 50th Test match, but also got nominated for the prestigious Arjuna Award – both of these happened on the same day. This was the Gujarat batsman’s 13th Test ton. Over the past one year, he has been very pivotal to the Test team’s success and was especially brilliant during India’s long home season as well.

India ended Day 1 of the second Test at Colombo on 344/3, riding on KL Rahul’s half century and dual tons from Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane along with their unbeaten 211-run partnership. The cricket fraternity is in awe of Pujara’s heroics, and so is former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly. The president of the Cricket Association of Bengal wished Pujara good luck for his future endeavours while praising him for his outstanding innings.

“Terrific player. It’s a remarkable turnaround since the West Indies tour. Doesn’t get picked in ODIs, doesn’t play IPL but he comes and gets runs in Test cricket. His hunger is amazing and it’s great to see him getting all these runs,” he said. “Wish him many more and hopefully he continues the run-scoring spree. India will start to go away and Pujara’s form at No. 3 will be important,” Ganguly was quoted by India Today as saying.

KL Rahul returns with a fifty

KL Rahul, who had missed the IPL as well as the Champions Trophy, and also the opening Test at Galle due to fever, returned to the field for the second Test and scored a half century. Ganguly praised the 24-year-old as well.

“He’s a very good player. He’s a player for all formats for India. He’s got to be careful about his injuries. The more he plays the better he is going to be,” Ganguly said. “The run-out was a misunderstanding. It happens. Rahul will be disappointed to not get a 100 against this attack,” he added.