Cheteshwara Pujara has kept things very simple this home season. Dogged batting, simple application and no fancy business. While Kohli has hogged all the limelight, Pujara has quietly gone about his business and ensured that India doesn’t miss the ever so dependable Rahul Dravid.
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Today was yet another day in the ‘Pujara display of patience’, wherein in the first session he soaked in all the pressure, set out on a boundary scoring spree after lunch and then as the wickets started tumbling around him, once again held up his end with immense grit and application.
He has been that stoic man in defense who India can always count on, no matter what the conditions and who the opposition.
This is how Twitter celebrated yet another wonderful performance from Cheteshwara Pujara:
Pujara's class keeps India alive on a day when Australia showed their class with the ball. Was a drip-drip day but they managed it well
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 18, 2017
No takers in the #IPL2017 Pujara compiles his 4th Test ton this home season
His 11th 50 plus score in 12 games #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/ZD3yWnA2Y1
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 18, 2017
Most Test runs in a season in India: #INDvAUS
1247 KOHLI (2016/17)
1109 PUJARA (2016/17)
1105 Sehwag (2004/05)
1027 Gavaskar (1979/80)
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/Harshaaadeez/status/843070612402667521
hope india have made an igloo of cotton wool to preserve #Pujara – what a magnificent effort that was, and he's still going
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) March 18, 2017
No3 batsmen who batted whole the day
Then – Rahul Dravid
Now – Pujara #IndvsAus— Vikhyath D king (@vickyNAGfan) March 18, 2017
Pujara was meditating the entire day, says Shastri. Aussies used to say the same about VVS Laxman. 'He bats as if he meditates!' #IndvAus
— Aishu Haridas (@imaishu_) March 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/MitchJohnson398/status/843014975723515904
Fuck the future, stand for the present, stand for Che Pujara#INDvsAUS
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) March 18, 2017
Cheteshwar Pujara..
11th Test 100
2nd v Aus
9th at home
10th in Asia
10th at #3
1st in 2017
4th this Test season
7th this fc season#IndvAus— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 18, 2017
Pujara and Jadeja both been under the shadows of Kohli and Ashwin but boy they have contributed equally.
— Hitchy (@hitchwriter) March 18, 2017
If you're not watching Che Pujara hitting the ball so beautifully, what are you even doing in life? #IndvAus
— S/R (@_whatsinaname) March 18, 2017
Players who batted last time with Tendulkar in
T20Is: Sehwag
ODIs: Kohli
IPL: D Karthik
CPL: D Smith
First Class: D Kulkarni
Tests: Pujara pic.twitter.com/Rn4iRLuJSb— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) March 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/ImAkiJani/status/843079056589373441
https://twitter.com/namkosh/status/843078779840868352
https://twitter.com/EMGEE147/status/843078490081710080
https://twitter.com/ItsCANeha/status/843078442010775552
https://twitter.com/ImAkiJani/status/843078411396571136
When Pujara started batting I was a fresher. Now I have 10 years of experience in IT Industry
— Gour (@pratikgour) March 18, 2017
People like to party all night but @cheteshwar1 loves to bat all day !! 🙂 What an effort champ. Mr.Dependable/Consistent/#Pujara #IndvAus
— Mikkhail Vaswani (@MikkhailVaswani) March 18, 2017
With India still 90 runs behind Australia’s total, Pujara will have to bat through if India want to gain a lead of any sort in the first innings. And with Saha at the other end at Jaddu still to come in, India will back themselves to overhaul this first innings score of Australia. The pitch isn’t playing too many tricks as of now, but every once in a while there is a puff of dust which tries to play with the minds of the batsmen.
Virat and co. will be hoping that the pitch starts to open up after lunch tomorrow after they have taken a lead of at least 50 runs. Easier said than done, as the Australian bowling lineup will come out as hawks tomorrow, waiting to pounce on any and every opportunity on offer. It is going to be an interesting fourth day in Ranchi, leave everything you are doing and tune into the match at 9 am tomorrow.
