“Pujara was like a sage on this first day. Focussed, determined and gritty.”
Virender Sehwag’s tweet at the end of Day 1 of India’s first Test against Australia, was perhaps most appropriate. Amidst a crumbling Indian batting-line, the No. 3 batsman remained at the crease through the opening day, smashing his 16th century in Test cricket. Also his maiden century in Australia, Pujara pulled India out of a deep hole to a respectable 250 for nine at stumps on Thursday, 6 December.
The 30-year-old showed grit and gumption en route a 246-ball 123 that kept India in the game after being reduced to 127 for six in the 50th over.
It took a brilliant direct from Pat Cummins to remove him on what happened to be the final ball of an absorbing day one of the four-Test series.
Besides former Indian cricketer Sehwag, other players and experts in the field also lauded Pujara’s performance on the opening day.
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