Pujara stands tall to keep India alive in Ranchi Test

A big century from skipper Steve Smith led Australia to a formidable first innings total of 451 before India’s batsmen set out steadily on day two of the third Test on Friday. With Wriddhiman Saha partnering him and Ravindra Jadeja, India will fancy their chances of closing the gap on Australia’s first-innings tally.

Earlier, Pujara and Murali Vijay raised their sixth century partnership of the season.

Through all this, classy Indian first drop Cheteshwar Pujara defied the Australians and, after a slow start, switched gears to score freely in the second session.

Smith’s angst increased at the next delivery, when a confident appeal for a bat-pad catch was turned down. “It (the sweep) came out pretty well, but it could have been much better if I had not got out”.

When the India one-day worldwide (ODI) squad then heads to England for the defence of the Champions Trophy, Pujara will once again stay behind, unless some English county is astute enough to acquire his services for a few Championship games.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s second century against Australia is his 11th in Tests.

Cummins removed Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin with bouncers, and he claimed the key scalp of Virat Kohli.

Pujara played the last of his 30 IPL games in 2014, and once again elicited next to no interest at the auction in February. Pujara is a guy who has the game for it, because he takes a lot of pressure and his game is such that you can depend on him and play your game naturally.

Kohli continued his miserable series when he attempted to drive the first delivery he faced from Cummins.

Kohli, who walked out to bat after missing the last day and a half recuperating from a shoulder injury could score only 6 before Steven Smith pulled out an ace, introducing Cummins in the attack.

“We are just concentrating on how the game is proceeding. Hopefully he can put up a good show tomorrow as well”, said Vijay.

“All the players are aware of it and whatever they are doing, we take it as a sportive thing and there’s going to be a second innings”. Whereas O’Keefe has kept one end tied up, the fast bowlers, Cummins and Hazlewood are plying their trade from the other end. All I can say is I am grateful. From thereon, Vijay and Pujara have added some quick runs.

In the morning session, Vijay hit a gutsy 82 before undoing his hardwork by being stumped off O’Keefe at the stroke of lunch.

Heaping praise on Pujara, Vijay said: “Pujara has the game for it”. “We will try to get closer to their total and attempt to extend (the) lead from there”.