Eden Gardens did not prove to be the kind of outing team India would have anticipated. As the underdog visitors asked the host to bat first, team India lost the first wicket at the very first ball and soon the flurry of wickets began. It’s been a match badly interrupted by rain and Indian wickets rained too in the first innings of the first match.
The only Indian batsman who could hold his ground was Cheteshwar Pujara. Under overcast conditions and when Lakmal was literally throwing unplayable deliveries at the batsman, Pujara’s fine technique and paramount patience was anchored at one end. The ball moved in all directions but Pujara’s conviction was on top of any other factor.
But as he walked out to bat the third day he was taken by surprise by a brilliant delivery from Lahiru Gamage. Pujara who showcased great conviction in his innings of 52 from 117 deliveries. He was extremely patient and waited for lose deliveries to put away.
But a magical delivery from Gamage ripped through Pujara’s tall gates of defence. The ball came into the right hander and inched sharply towards him after pitching. The movement was too much to control and Pujara’s attempt to drive the delivery only ended in vain as the timber had already been dislodged.
In a match bizarrely spoilt by rain and bad light India managed to score 172 in the first innings. The score however looks decent given how the ball has been doing a lot and Indian bowlers would have been really excited to see the movement off the pitch. The onus is now on the bowlers to turn the tables. But we must appreciate Pujara for he’s scored 63% of the runs that amount to being India’s total.
Here is the video:
https://streamable.com/
