Slow but steady, India's Pujara constructs another test hundred

NEW DELHI : Cheteshwar Pujara does not fit into the popular image of a modern-day cricketer - the muscle-flaunting and social media-savvy lot - but is on the verge of a milestone that would be the stuff of dreams for most of them.

Some 13 years after his debut against a Ricky Ponting-led Australia side in Bangalore, Pujara will step out at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday to play his 100th against the familiar foes.

It has been a rollercoaster journey for the 35-year-old, whose batting, built around a watertight defence, is something of an anachronism particularly when England are threatening to change how test cricket is played with their ultra-aggressive 'Bazball' approach.

Even within India's star-studded batting lineup of flashy shot-makers, Pujara, who bats as if runs are to be earned and not plundered, is conspicuous by not being so.

At number three, his primary task is to soak up the pressure and soften the new ball, sometimes putting his body on the line, to make batting easier for those around him.

Pujara played the last of his five one-day internationals in 2014 and his name does not attract bids in the Indian Premier League but India's top order bulwark has refused to overhaul his game to suit shorter formats.

"Each and every player has different style. What I have learnt in all these years is - stick to your strengths," Pujara told reporters on Thursday.

"You need to back that and I have added few shots to my game in last couple of years and I'm continuing to grow as a cricketer."

Australia will be sick of the sight of Pujara crouching on his bat-down stance having found him practically immovable when India became the first Asian nation to win a test series Down Under in 2018-19.

Pujara finished the series as