‘Time To Shave Half Moustache’ Fans Recalls Ashwin’s Promise After Pujara Ends Six Drought

In this day and age of fast-paced cricket, it’s hard to be Cheteshwar Pujara. Even though he only plays the longest format, everyone expects him to score runs at brisk pace. The Saurashtra cricketer often faces criticism for being too slow and not showing enough intent.

Ignoring all that, Pujara just keeps his head down and goes about his business as usual. But something unusual happened on Day 2 of the ongoing second Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai.

© Instagram Cheteshwar Pujara

Playing against his nature, the Indian veteran dispatched a half-tracker from New Zealand’s first innings hero Ajaz Patel over mid-wicket for a six — his first international six in two years. The last one came against South Africa in 2019.

Hitting a six is a normal scoring shot then why so much fuss about it, one would ask. See, the point is clearing the ropes might be a normal affair for other batters but not Pujara. Not that he lacks the skills, he just doesn’t want hitting a bowler over the top, it’s against his style of play.

© Reuters

That’s why when he cleared the ropes, it lit up the internet. The fans also recalled how Ravichandran Ashwin, before the home Test series against England earlier this year, had thrown an open challenge to the middle-order batter promising that if he went over the top he would shave off half his moustache and come out to play.

Pujara smacked a six
Time for Ashwin anna to shave half of his moustache

Come on @ashwinravi99 #INDvNZ#Ashwin #Pujara pic.twitter.com/sCHyGmbrmW

— Captain bavuma (@realpraveen77) December 4, 2021

Talking to Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour on his official YouTube channel, Ashwin had asked: “Will we ever see Pujara hit an off-spinner over the top?”

To which Rathour replied, “Work-in-progress. I’m trying to convince him that at least once go over the top. He is still not convinced, He is giving me great reasons.

© Reuters

“That’s a great challenge to put across. Let’s hope that he takes it up. I don’t think he will take it up,” Rathour said.

“If he goes over the top against Moeen Ali or any other spinner stepping down the wicket in this English series that we gonna play, I will take half my moustache out and come to play the game. This is an open challenge,” said Ashwin, describing the simple terms of his open challenge.

© Reuters

Now that was quite a daring thing to promise. But Ashwin somewhat knew that Pujara wouldn’t take his challenge up and he was saved from the embarrassment.

After more than six months, Pujara finally accepted his challenge and played an aggressive shot against Patel and fans started reminding Ashwin to fulfill his promise and shave his moustache.

Pujara hitting a six
I remember @ashwinravi99 mention on his YT that if Pujara hits a 6 off a spinner, Ashwin will shave half his moustache like in ‘thillu mullu’. @ashwinravi99 ready ah sir?

— Karthik (@KarthikRams18) December 4, 2021

So, is Ashwin going to shave off half his mustache now that @cheteshwar1 has hit a six? 😉 Or was it valid only for the England series?

— Amit Das (@das_think) December 5, 2021

We demand @ashwinravi99 ‘s moustache now since @cheteshwar1 hit a six #INDvzNZ #pujara #Ashwin #IndianCricketTeam

— Just curious (@being_jigyasu) December 4, 2021

Pujara smacked a six
Time for Ashwin anna to shave half of his moustache

Come on @ashwinravi99 #INDvNZ#Ashwin #Pujara https://t.co/EnWNIl8W7a

— Shoronjeet Banerjee (@shoronjeet02) December 4, 2021

Ashwin, Pujara hit six today. I hope you would keep half mustache as promised.

— $ubr@m@n!an 🇮 (@imsubrk) December 4, 2021

Remember when Ashwin told that he’ll shave off half his mustache when pujara hits a six off a bowler? Well, now is the time

— Sriram (@xyz23621554) December 4, 2021

However, it’s important to point out that Ashwin had clearly mentioned that his challenge was limited to only the England series not beyond that. Secondly, even though decides to be a sport and take the dare, he just can’t do it because he is sporting a clean-shaven look these days.

But one thing is for sure, he would definitely think twice before throwing daring challenges.