Indian Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara once again lived up to the expectations of millions of fans after he played a marathon inning on Day 5 of the ongoing third Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Pujara showed resilience and fought back while keeping team India in the game on the final day.
Resuming the day on 98 for 2, while chasing a whopping target of 407 runs, team India was off to a disastrous start as they could manage to only four runs before the skipper Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed by Nathan Lyon. There was a lot of pressure on Pujara, who joined hands with Rishabh Pant, and together they forged a fantastic partnership.
Pujara and Pant added 148 runs for the fourth wicket and gave team India an outside chance of pulling off a miraculous win. Pant rained back-to-back fours at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He also smashed 3 sixes as he took the attack to the hosts. Pant looked all set to bring in his century and needed only 3 runs to do so, however, he was soon dismissed off Lyon’s delivery after scoring 97 runs off 118 balls.
However, Pujara held the game and ensured the momentum didn’t turn in Australia’s favor. Pujara faced 205 balls for his 77 runs and smashed 12 boundaries. However, he too was dismissed of delivery from Josh Hazlewood.
Earlier, Pujara was brutally criticized by several cricketers and fans for his slow performance, however, today he silenced his critics in style and showed a balance between aggression and defense.
Meanwhile, social media was flooded with amazing reactions from the netizens on the performance of Pujara. From cricketers, experts to fans, everyone is showering praises on Pujara for keeping the hopes alive with his stunning performance.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
Despite of being trolled for his slow knock in 1st inning, Pujara remained stuck to his strength.
And this wonderful knock is the result of that masterclass!!
A century mark would have added more essence to his inning.
WELL PLAYED PUJARA ?#Pujara#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/jVf5OHTSzF— ?????ℯ ℛ?? (@Princeraj2494) January 11, 2021
Pujara’s strike-rate is 26. Raise your hand if you’re still complaining. Anil Kumble once said….Strike-rate in Tests is only for bowlers. ?? #AusvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 11, 2021
A song of Ice and fire. #Pant #Pujara #AUSvIND
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 11, 2021
Thank you Pujara and Pant for the hope… Officially looking forward to fourth Test. #AUSvIND
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 11, 2021
Rohit, Pant, Pujara, Vihari, Jadeja each of them are a story. Stories of commitment grit and determination. There is more to sport than winning and losing. And this team has showed us what it is to fight and earn respect. This is fantastic to see.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 11, 2021
Love a Test match that goes down to the wire. Gripping to watch, with Pujara’s defence, Pant’s attack, Ashwin & Vihari’s determination. And who knows what to come. #AusvInd @7Cricket
— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) January 11, 2021
So our only hope for a draw departs. As usual, #Pujara gets a peach! #INDvAUS
— Aditya Ambekar (@ambekaraditya) January 11, 2021
In times of T20,it’s very brave to be #Pujara,yet he is going to be him,the world has to adjust,and later,learn to appreciate and applaud.Players like him ensure that there is a fifth day in test cricket,a Pant’s innings, and an unusually pleasant Monday. :):)#AUSvIND #INDvsAUS
— Manish Rao (@immanishrao) January 11, 2021
Imagine getting 6000 test runs at 48 with 18 hundreds, winning your nation their ONLY test series in a country like Australia and yet have to justify your spot in every fkin inns you play. #Pujara #AUSvINDtest #AUSvIND
— Wanderer (@DisDatNothin) January 11, 2021
So our only hope for a draw departs. As usual, #Pujara gets a peach! #INDvAUS
— Aditya Ambekar (@ambekaraditya) January 11, 2021
Kuch bhi kaho @pujara ne Australian bowlers ko rula diya aaj.
Aaj India jeete na jeete #RealSteal ka last match yaad aa gaya Atom vs Zeus#IndiavsAustralia#AUSvIND #Pujara— Deadpool.1337 (@ttjskp) January 11, 2021
On our hand each finger does a different job, and that’s exactly what @cheteshwar1 and @RishabhPant17 did for #TeamIndia. Wonderful partnership.#ONETEAMONECAUSE#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/sUEwWXXvYj
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 11, 2021
India may or may not win today, But this is an appreciation post for @RishabhPant17 & @cheteshwar1 ! #IndiavsAustralia #indvsausTestmatch #RishabhPant #pujara pic.twitter.com/GI6SqjTWVd
— Akshat Vora (@be_akki07) January 11, 2021
Cheteshwar Pujara became the first Indian non-opener to face 200 plus balls in the 4th inns in Australia#AUSvIND #Cheteshwar #Pujara. https://t.co/P7tYyq0SFL
— Pushkar Pushp (@ppushp7) January 11, 2021
Even if we lose, I’ll still be proud of the way we played.
That celebration from hazelwood shows how rattled the aussies were#pujara #pant#vihari
— Head before wicket (@brightbharath) January 11, 2021
https://twitter.com/sivaprakash78/status/1348475991899787265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1348475991899787265%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportskeeda.com%2Fcricket%2Fnews-players-like-ensure-fifth-day-test-cricket-twitterati-hails-cheteshwar-pujara-gritty-innings
You need an excellent ball to dismiss an excellent batsman.#AUSvIND #Pujara
— FoMA Ramteke (@fomaramteke) January 11, 2021
