Brett Lee lavished huge praise over him and remarked Cheteshwar Pujara as one of the major difference in the four-match Test series between eventual winners India and subsequent losers Australia.
India's dependable No.3 aggregated 521 runs at 74.43 across his seven innings with three outstanding tons in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney to pave the way for country's maiden Test series triumph down under, as Lee told The Telegraph, "If I had to bowl to Pujara, I would have prayed! Seriously, he is so good and puts such a heavy price on his wicket. Pujara really is a freak of nature... Look at his statistics... Three hundreds. Our best? Harris’s 79 in the first innings at the SCG."
Virat Kohli's men ended with a draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), recording a 2-1 series scoreline and finished off India's 71-long-year wait to finally achieve Test success in Australia.
"Both... Our(Australian) batsmen just didn’t get the runs they’re capable of, whereas India had two totals of over 300, one 443/7 declared and, then, the 622/7 declared at the SCG. In a completed innings, India went below 250 no more than once... Those figures do the talking... Clearly, Australia haven’t played their best cricket. India have been brilliant," Lee further noted.
Before the former right-arm pacer pointed out brilliant individual performances from the Indian unit and termed that as one of the reasons why the Tim Paine led Australia fell so far behind.
Lee said, "The performances of Jasprit Bumrah (21 wickets), Cheteshwar Pujara (521 runs), Mohammed Shami (16 wickets)... Virat Kohli’s captaincy as well. They’ve played a good brand of cricket, enjoyed the tour and have won the series."
The 42-year-old also complimented Kohli for leading India from the front with the bat and showing excellent tactical acumen in the field.
"Outstanding... Virat has shown the correct aggression, or aggression at the right time... Then, his field placements have been wonderful. Now, Virat is on the cusp of history, becoming the first captain from India to win a Test series on our soil. Congratulations to him and India," Lee signed off.
