The drought for Cheteshwar Pujara’s Test century extended by another innings – his last Test ton came in January 2019 – and on Wednesday, Pujara fell agonizingly close to a three-figure score.
India’s number 3 was dismissed for a personal score of 90 in the first innings of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram.
Pujara, the vice-captain for this Test, had, as usual, put in a hard grind in his innings and was India’s top-scorer on Day 1, with the team ending the day’s play on 278/6.
India had been given a scare early on when they were reduced to 48/3 after the dismissals of Shubman Gill (20), KL Rahul (22), and Virat Kohli. However, as he’s done on numerous occasions, Cheteshwar Pujara held his end, while the funky and aggressive Rishabh Pant countered with 46 runs off 45 balls.
Cheteshwar Pujara has played 97 Tests for India
After Pant’s dismissal, at the score of 112/4, India remained in a precarious situation but were bailed out by Iyer and Pujara, the pair sharing a crucial partnership of 149 runs. Pujara got out for 90 off 203 balls followed by the dismissal of Axar Patel late in the day. Iyer is 18 runs away from what would be his second Test century.
During his gritty knock of 90, Cheteshwar Pujara went past former Indian batting great Dilip Vengsarkar in the tally of most runs for India in Tests to become the 8th-highest run-getter for the country in the longest format of the game.
Vengsarkar scored 6868 runs at an average of 42 in 116 Tests; Pujara now has 6882 runs in 97 Tests at an average of 44. At the nearest position above him is Sourav Ganguly, who recorded 7212. Among the active Indian players, only Virat Kohli has more runs – 8075 at 49 – than Pujara.
Even though he missed the century, Pujara said he was happy to contribute.
“Even if it’s just 90, it’s quite valuable for the team. It was a good ball, there was nothing I could have done,” Pujara said. “I am not too worried about not getting to the three-figure mark. I have been batting well and if I continue like this, hopefully it will come soon.
