The Indian Test specialist, Cheteshwar Pujara loves batting in Australia but he got out on an unplayable delivery from much-talked-about fast bowler Michael Neser during India’s 2nd innings in the ongoing 3-day practice match against Australia A at the Drummoyne Oval in Sydney on Tuesday.
Pujara was dismissed for a duck after Michael Nesser managed to churn out a peach of a delivery and move just a bit away as the ball knocked the top of off-stump. Cheteshwar Pujara dropped his shoulders and looked baffled before he walked back to the dressing room after just facing 8 balls on Tuesday.
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It was Pujara’s first competitive outing since the resumption of cricketing after the enforced break due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. He impressed in the first innings, he played a gritty knock of 54 as he stitched a 76-run stand with India A captain Ajinkya Rahane. More importantly, Pujara batted for 140 balls, reminding the Australians of the marathon he managed in the 2018-19 series.
Beauty! Seam bowling perfection from Michael Neser to knock over Cheteshwar Pujara #AUSAvIND pic.twitter.com/Jy55DzEySh
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 8, 2020
Pujara was instrumental in helping India seal a historic 2-1 Test series victory in Australia in 2018-19 as he has batted for 1258 balls and spent 30 hours in the middle, scoring 521 runs in 4 Tests. All eyes will be on Pujara when India will be commencing the 4-match Test series with a day-night fixture in Adelaide on December 17.
There are some concerns for the visitors as young openers Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw failed to prove their worth in the 3-day practice game. While Gill managed to add 20 runs, Shaw hit 19 runs over 2 innings in Sydney. It was disappointing to see both the openers get out playing rash shots in the 2nd innings on Tuesday.
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The two openers are in race for the 2nd opener’s position as Rohit Sharma is unlikely to be available for the first 2 Tests in Australia. While Mayank Agarwal is certain as an opener, it will be interesting to see who partners him in Adelaide as in-form KL Rahul is also in the reckoning.
India was in a spot of bother in the first practice match against Australia as they were reduced 119 for 5 by Australia A who also sealed a 59-run first innings lead, thanks to a terrific hundred by highly-rated all-rounder Cameroon Green. India skipper Rahane hit an unbeaten 117 in the first innings but he was dismissed by Neser for 28 on Tuesday.
