Cheteshwar Pujara today got a huge compliment from legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who said the young batsman was a complete Test batsman, whose temperament was the hallmark of his batting.
Pujara yet again batted splendidly as he struck an unbeaten 114 to lift India to a respectable 266 for six on day one after being reduced to 119 for five at one stage. "He's a terrific player. He has shown that he is a complete Test batsman. After the Ahmedabad Test, he has shown his mettle and he'll be able to do it in abroad as well," Gavaskar said.
"The way he build up his innings shows that his temperament is terrific ans it is temperament which separates men from boys," Gavaskar told NDTV. Batting at crucial number three position, Pujara had remained unbeaten in the first Test as well as he scored a double hundred and 41 in India's nine-wicket win.
India's top order struggled today on a turning track but Gavaskar said it was a bit worrisome but there was no need to panic. "If in two Test matches it happens, you start to think what's going wrong. It's not as if they have failed. Look Sehwag is coming into this match with a hundred. It's difficult wicket to bat, there was a lot of spin which is expected in Mumbai.
"When acknowledged batsmen do not get runs, you worry a bit for sure," he said.
Gavaskar also backed India's decision to play three spinners despite saying earlier that team will go into the match with a combination of two seamers and two spinners. "I think they (India) are playing mind games with England. You saw Ishant Sharma marking his run up in the morning which suggested that India will play with two seamers and two spinners. But at the toss you find Harbhajan Singh is playing.
"It's just the kind of wicket Harbhajan needed. With Ashwin and Harbhajan there nobody (England batsman) is going to relax. It will benefit the Indian team," Gavaskar said. It's after a long time that India are fielding three frontline spinners in the side and Gavaskar said earlier Indian pitches did not have much for the fast bowlers, so spinners came into attack early.
