RAJKOT, India: Local hero Cheteshwar Pujara held his nerve in front of watching family and friends to strike a century and lead a spirited Indian fightback in the first Test against England on Friday.
The elegant right-hander struck a patient 124 and also shared a 209-run stand with his favourite batting partner Murali Vijay (126) to help top-ranked India finish the third day of a high-scoring Test on 319-4.
The hosts now trail by 218 runs with six wickets in hand in reply to England’s 537, their third biggest total on Indian soil, thanks to centuries from Joe Root, Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes.
After being stuck on 99 for 10 balls, Pujara brought up his ton with a nervous single as his father and wife applauded from the stands in the first-ever Test at Rajkot’s Saurashtra Cricket Association ground.
“There were many nervous moments. There were expectations as many family and close friends were watching this game and the crowd was expecting me to score big runs,” said the 28-year-old, who was born in Rajkot.
“But I told myself I don’t need to think about all that. I just focussed on my processes and things turned out well for me.”
Pujara, who shared his sixth century stand with Vijay, attributed the pair’s success to a fine understanding of each other’s game.
“It’s the communication which keeps us going. We know each other’s strengths and we always try and communicate with each other.”
Pujara, who hit 17 fours in his 206-ball knock, owed his ninth Test century and third against England to the Decision Review System, which long-time sceptics India are using for the first time in a home series.
He was ruled lbw on 86 but the TV umpire overturned the decision after the ball-tracker showed Zafar Ansari’s delivery going over the top of the stumps.
“When the ball hit me, I thought it was quite high. I confirmed with Vijay and even he felt it was high,” Pujara said of the review.
There was some drama in the final session when England dismissed Vijay and nightwatchman Amit Mishra in the last two overs of the day.
Score Board
England won toss
England 1st innings 537 all-out (B Stokes 128, J Root 124; R Jadeja 3-86)
India 1st innings
M Vijay c Hameed b Rashid 126
G Gambhir lbw b Broad 29
C A Pujara c Cook b Stokes 124
*V Kohli not out 26
A Mishra c Hameed b Ansari 0
Extras (b 12, lb 1, w 1) 14
Total (4 wickets; 108.3 overs) 319
To bat: A M Rahane, R Ashwin, †W P Saha, R A Jadeja, M Shami, U T Yadav
Fall: 1-68, 2-277, 3-318, 4-319
Bowling: Broad 20-7-54-1; Woakes 23-5-39-0 (1w); Ali 22-6-70-0; Ansari 17.3-1-57-1; Rashid 16-1-47-1; Stokes 10-1-39-1
Test debut: H Hameed (England)
Umpires: H D P K Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) and C B Gaffaney (New Zealand). TV umpire: R J Tucker (Australia). Match referee: R S Madugalle (Sri Lanka)