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Star Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood spoke at length about Team India's Test stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara and revealed why the Aussies love to hate the Indian right-handed batter. Over the years, Pujara has earned the respect of some of the greatest fast bowlers in contemporary cricket with marathon knocks with the bat and lion-hearted effort in testing conditions. India's 'Wall 2.0' as Pujara is famously known, recently completed 100 Test matches for India in Test cricket and his numbers in red-ball cricket are stupendous.
Lavinsing praise on Pujara, Hazlewood opined that the thrill of dismissing the Indian batter is unparalleled as he puts a massive price on his wicket.
"It's a bigger thrill for the the bowlers (to dismiss Pujara). I think when you do end up getting his wicket, it means you have earned it," PTI quoted Hazlewood as saying on RCB podcast.
"It means you've put in a lot of hard work. Whether it is the fifth ball he (Pujara) faces... you've already bowled to him in the previous Test matches, you've earned that respect and you've earned that wicket." the Aussie pacer added.
Hazlewood said that he had had some great tussles with the Indian stalwart, adding that he was a fantastic player.
"He's someone I've had some great tussles over the years, and, in particular, in Australia. He's someone Australians love to hate but he's a fantastic player and I guess that is part of Test cricket. When you do get him out, you've earned it," said Hazlewood, whose participation in IPL 2023 could be in doubt because of the tendon injury.
Pujara has represented India in 102 Test matches so far in his career, scoring 7,154 runs in the process at an average of 43.88. The dogged right-handed batter has registered 35 half-centuries and 19 tons in international red-ball cricket.
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