Watch: An 18-year-old Cheteshwar Pujara unleashed a stunning assault on English bowlers during the 2006 U19 World Cup, scoring an unbeaten century in the tournament’s semi-final.
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The modern-day Pujara is synonymous with doggedness in Test cricket, a batsman who puts a heavy price on his wicket and relies on defence more than offence. When Pujara started his career, though, he was a freewheeling white-ball batsman who would take on the bowlers. Pujara, who went on to construct a successful List A career, made his first-class debut aged 17 and subsequently became a part of the India 2006 U19 World Cup team that was beaten in the final.
It turned out to be a bumper tournament for the young Pujara, who ended as the highest run-getter, scoring 349 runs at a whopping average of 116.33. Out of those, 129 runs came in the semi-final against England, where Pujara’s unbeaten ton set up a big total, and in turn, a massive win for India.
The innings is especially fascinating to watch today when Pujara has long since evolved from being an expressive tyro as a teenager to becoming a top-0rder rock.
In the semi-final in Colombo, Pujara carried his bat en route to his maiden U19 century, scoring 129 off 146 balls to steer India towards a match-winning total of 292. Pujara kept piling on the runs in relentless fashion, unfazed by the early introduction of spin (including ten overs of Moeen Ali) and benefiting from a dropped chance early in his innings. Having stitched together a 112-run stand with Rohit Sharma for the second wicket, he scored his first 100 runs off 135 balls, and proceeded to add the next 29 in just 11 deliveries.
Ending at the top of the run charts, 11 runs clear of Ireland’s Eoin Morgan, Pujara also received the Player of the Tournament award.
In the end, England didn’t get close. They swiftly collapsed to 58 all out, with only No.9 Graeme Welch making it into double figures. The final was similarly ball dominated. Piyush Chawla claimed 4-8 to skittle Pakistan, led by future national captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, for 109.
However, a sensational new-ball spell from Anwar Ali saw India slide dramatically to 9-6 and 23-7. Chawla stood up with the bat, making an unbeaten 25, but India still fell 38 runs short.
Here are the highlights of his unbeaten knock:
https://twitter.com/cric_archivist/status/1353644582546722816
