Like the billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Gautam Gambhir, the tenacious former opener-turned-coach, also seems to be governed by instincts while picking unheralded players and turning them into match-winners, points out Vishal Menon.
Known for his sound technique and insatiable appetite for runs, Cheteshwar Pujara believes he has what it takes to succeed Rahul Dravid at the crucial number three position in India's Test side and says comparison with his childhood idol acts as a "morale-booster".
Sidelined by a ligament tear in his right knee, talented middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is targeting the Australian tour later this year to make a comeback to the Indian squad.
'As an individual I don't have to rate myself. I have already performed in Test cricket,' says India's latest batting sensation Cheteshwar Pujara. Harish Kotian reports.
Rohit Sharma's request to the BCCI for a break from white-ball cricket in South Africa despite being offered T20 captaincy has been accepted, while Jasprit Bumrah has been named his deputy for the two Tests starting December 26.
A US-based sports website has placed India's prolific batsman Cheteshwar Pujara in its latest list of potentially good top ten investment options in sports, putting the Saurashtra player alongside the likes of Brazilian soccer star Neymar and Formula One ace Sebastian Vettel.
Virat Kohli's woeful form continued as India 'A' were shot out for a paltry 135 by Australia 'A' in the second unofficial 'Test' in Chennai on Wednesday.
Images from the third day's play of the first Test between South Africa and India at the New Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg on Friday.
England's bowlers must have heaved a huge sigh of relief when they saw the back of Indian run machine Cheteshwar Pujara.
Yashasvi Jaiswal joined the legendary Sunil Gavaskar as the only two Indian batters to score more than 700 runs in a bilateral Test series.
Prolific Saurashtra middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who slammed his career's second Ranji Trophy triple hundred, may have to wait a little more to make his ODI debut, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni indicated on Thursday.
Yuvraj Singh was left out of the Indian squad for the forthcoming Test series against Australia next month. His place in the team was taken by Saurashtra middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been one of the most successful batsmen in domestic cricket in the last few years.
With his fifth Test hundred, the Saurashtra batsman has conclusively proved he is here to stay, says Haresh Pandya.
Kevin Pietersen says the performance Indian batsmen, especially Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, will be critical to the side's chances during its lengthy tour of England, come this summer.
Maharashtra batsman Ankit Bawne scored a gutsy century under pressure as West Zone took a vital 43-run first innings lead against East Zone on the second day of the Duleep Trophy quarter-final in Lahli.
Cheteshwar Pujara feels the two warm-up games that the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team will play before the five-Test series against England will help the visitors adapt to the conditions.
'Selectors should have a clear idea about him (Pujara). Do they need him to play Test cricket anymore or do they want to continue with youngsters and communicate it to him. Somebody like Pujara can't be dropped, then picked, dropped again and then picked. Same with Ajinkya Rahane also.'
India 'A' skipper Cheteshwar Pujara (67) stood tall amid the ruins after his West Indies 'A' counterpart Veersammy Permaul wrecked the visiting line-up with a five-wicket haul on the second day of their second unofficial cricket Test in Kingstown on Sunday.
Brought into the squad only after first-choice opener Murali Vijay was ruled out due to injury, Dhawan made full use of the opportunity and played an entertaining 168-ball innings that was studded with 31 fours. This was his fifth Test hundred.
We have Shubman Gill at one end ready to carry on the mantle but what about his partner?
Cheteshwar Pujara is the first Indian batsman to post three hundreds in Tests in 2013 and is of the opinion that his side has enough runs on the board to press for a win on the final day in the first cricket Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Ashwin is the only Indian to score a century and bag a five-wicket in a single Test. He has achieved this feat on three occasions.
As his quest to find a spot in India's One-day side continues, Cheteshwar Pujara has also started bowling in order to fit the bill for ODI selection and said a good showing in IPL could see him on the plane to Australia and New Zealand for next year's World Cup.
Sunil Gavaskar believes switching from the T20 mode in the IPL to Test cricket will be the biggest challenge for the Indian players when they take on Australia.
India will embark on a redemption tour to England just after the ongoing Indian Premier League and Cheteshwar Pujara, who is expected to be the team's batting mainstay, feels it will be a tough ask for the visitors' to switch to Test cricket mode from the Twenty20 format.
Skipper Cheteshwar Pujara scored his third triple hundred in first-class cricket as India gained a stranglehold over the West Indies 'A' in the third unofficial 'Test' in Hubli n Friday. The Saurashtra batsman registered an unbeaten 306 as the home side declared their first innings at 564 for 9, just at the stroke of tea, in reply to the West Indies' 268, to take a 296-run lead.
Saurabh Kumar was virtually unplayable on a raging turner, returning with a match-haul of 10 wickets as Rest of India beat Saurashtra
Ben Stokes and his team-mates have their task cut out as they look to emulate Alastair Cook-led England's historic India series win in 2012.
Cheteshwar Pujara will take it step by step to reclaim his lost berth in the Indian squad, focusing on helping Saurashtra qualify for the One-day Inter Zonals for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Cheteshwar Pujara stayed in the top-10 list in the latest ICC Test Rankings issued on Sunday. Pujara dropped a rung to seventh but is still better off than his teammates as far as the rankings are concerned.
Gill said his team has learnt plenty from the disappointing defeat against the Kiwis.
Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said that his team's bowling performances in the first Test versus England was up to the mark and they should not be too disappointed with the 198-run world record stand for the last wicket between Joe Root and James Anderson in Nottingham.
Stuart Binny and Cheteshwar Pujara led the way with fluent half centuries as India ended day two of their three-day tour game versus Derbyshire at 341/6, enjoying a useful day of batting practice before the first Test begins at Nottingham on July 9.
Murali Vijay (129 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (162 not out) hit unbeaten centuries to put India in complete control on the second day.
Poor batting was at the heart of the debacle.
The Meteorological (MeT) department of the UK has predicted a 30 per cent chance of precipitation during the afternoon,
Impressed with his captaincy at the ODI World Cup, former captain Sourav Ganguly on Friday threw his weight behind Rohit Sharma, saying he should lead India at least till the T20 World Cup in June next year.
'All love surround you and the pure light within you, Guide your way home.'
Ravindra Jadeja stole the show while Umesh Yadav bowled his heart out.
A fit again Wriddhiman Saha was named in the Rest of India squad that will take on first-time Ranji Trophy champions in the Irani Cup to be held in Mumbai from January 20-24.
