Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara, known for his classic Test match temperament, engaged in some light-hearted banter with former England captain Michael Vaughan ahead of the first India-England Test at Headingley. The incident involved Pujara presenting Vaughan with a framed print of a tweet from December 2020, where Vaughan had confidently predicted a 4-0 whitewash of India during their tour of Australia.
Vaughan's original tweet, posted after India's disastrous batting collapse in the first Test at Adelaide, read: "Told ya … India are going to get hammered in the Test Series … #AUSvIND #4-0." However, the series unfolded in a dramatically different fashion. India, after being bowled out for a paltry 36 in the first Test and losing key players to injury, staged a remarkable comeback to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1. Ajinkya Rahane led the side admirably after Virat Kohli returned home for the birth of his child.
India's resilience saw them win the second Test in Melbourne, draw the third in Sydney thanks to courageous batting from Rishabh Pant, Hanuma Vihari, and Ravichandran Ashwin, and then chase down a target of 328 on the final day of the fourth Test in Brisbane. This historic win at the Gabba ended Australia's 32-year unbeaten run at the venue and sealed the series victory for India.
Fast forward to 2025, and both Pujara and Vaughan are now part of the commentary team for the ongoing five-match Test series between England and India. Pujara seized the opportunity to playfully remind Vaughan of his incorrect prediction. He presented Vaughan with the framed tweet and cheekily asked for his autograph. The moment, which took place in the Sony Sports studio, was met with amusement by fellow commentators, including Sunil Gavaskar and Harsha Bhogle. Vaughan sportingly obliged and signed the framed tweet.
The exchange highlights the unpredictable nature of cricket and serves as a reminder that pre-series predictions often fall flat in the face of on-field realities. It also demonstrates the camaraderie and good-natured spirit that exists between players, even across different nationalities and rivalries.
Pujara himself has been a vital cog in India's Test setup for over a decade. Born on January 25, 1988, the right-handed batter from Gujarat has played 103 Test matches, scoring 7,195 runs at an average of 44, including 16 centuries and 35 half-centuries. While he wasn't included in the playing XI for the first Test against England, his presence in the commentary box adds valuable insights and expertise for the viewers. He last played for India in the World Test Championship Final in June 2023.
