Cheteshwar Pujara will be playing his 100th Test for India on Friday, February 17. The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. This is the first Test Delhi is hosting since December 2017. The first Test was played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur where the hosts won by an inning and 132 runs.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri was full of praise for Pujara for making it to the 100 Test matches. He called Pujara a 'warrior' and said he will always remain a 'soldier' for him. The second Test against Australia will be a special moment for the top-order batter who made his Test debut in 2010. After playing the Second Test, the 35-year-old batter became the 13th player to complete 100 Test matches for India.
'He's a warrior, he is my Soldier' - Ravi Shastri heaps praises for Cheteshwar Pujara
"I said then and I say this today, he is a warrior. For me, he is my soldier, like I had said after the Gabba Test. He is a warrior. If India managed to create history by winning two series in Australia, Pujara had a massive role to play in those achievements. Massive," Shastri told Cricbuzz.
"He is a quiet operator who can be lethal when needed. He has done yeoman service to Indian cricket and is a quintessential professional. Many congratulations to him on the 100th Test," he added.
The 60-year-old backed Pujara’s slow batting stating that his biggest strength is his stubbornness. The Saurashtra player got the No.3 batting position after Rahul Dravid called time on his career. Considering Pujara’s contribution to Team India, the former coach said that he has the ability to hold the top-order for India for such a long time. He also said that Pujara owned that place after Dravid's retirement.
Ahead of the second Test, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar felicitated him and his teammates gave him a guard of honor for his landmark 100th Test.
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