India finished Day 1 of the first Test against Australia in Adelaide on 233/6 and although at stumps, the match looked nicely poised, it could have remained in favor had it not been for the run out of Virat Kohli. The Indian skipper was batting on 74 and along with Ajinkya Rahane had added 88 runs for the fourth wicket before engaging in a match-changing mix-up between the two which saw the India captain miss out on his first century of 2020.
It was Rahane, who called for the run and when Kohli responded, his partner decided to cancel the run, leaving Kohli stranded in the middle of the pitch to be run out. Talking about the same, Cheteshwar Pujara said, “We were in a very good position today. After losing Virat, Rahane and (Hanuma) Vihari (in quick succession)… those were crucial wickets.”
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He further elaborated, “There was a stage when we were in a dominating position; but after losing Virat and Ajinkya, they (Australia) have a little bit of advantage. (But) we are just six down and Ash (Ravichandran Ashwin) can bat, Wriddhi (Wriddhiman Saha) can bat. We can get close to 275-300.”
Pujara will have mixed feelings about his own innings as well as he failed to get better of the off-spinner Nathan Lyon after having negotiated the pacers so well. The Indian Test specialist was initially trying to use his feet to charge the spinner. Lyon’s disconcerting drift and bounce, however, along with some impressive first-day turn, ensured the Aussie had the last laugh.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who broke Joe Root’s record of facing the most deliveries against Australia over the past decade, said Lyon had “improved as a bowler over the past 4-5 years”.
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Talking about the veteran spinner, Pujara said, “It’s the revs (revolutions) he gets each and every ball…he has been one of their leading bowlers. His line and length has improved. We have to respect that. The run-out of Virat was massive. A wicket like that…he was batting so well. It (bowling to Pujara) was good fun. Kohli and Pujara are different in terms of style and approach (to spin bowling). The edges did not carry because they played with extremely soft hands.”
