Zeroing in on India's new No.3

Gill and newcomers Jaiswal and Gaikwad are all good options in the Caribbean for the slot vacated by Pujara

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

MUMBAI: In the Duleep Trophy semi-final in Bengaluru on Friday, Cheteshwar Pujara served a reminder that it will be big shoes for any successor at his India No.3 spot to fill.

The scoreboard in the West Zone versus Central Zone clash at Alur, near Bengaluru, showed how tough it was for the batters. In both the semis - South beat North in Bengaluru - batters faltered in overcast conditions where seamers held the advantage. The seasoned Pujara showed how it is done, scoring 133 (278 balls) in the second innings as West went through on first innings lead after the drawn game.

It's not just skill and temperament. It's a test of cricketing intelligence too. To read the delivery out of the bowler's hand is the most difficult ability to pick up. Adjusting as per the bounce to know at what length and line you can leave the ball is another. As per the match report of a leading website, Avesh Khan beat Pujara with his first ball in the second over on Day 3. The batter made a note of where the ball pitched and its trajectory to size up the pitch. He was never to be troubled again by a fast bowler for the rest of the day. Ditto with spinners; he had one play and miss early, never again in the innings.

International cricket can be tough when the conditions get extreme. The ongoing Headingley Test is an example. In a distinguished career, Pujara has passed them all.