The Indian Test specialist, Cheteshwar Pujara was the pick of the Indian batsmen in the second innings of the ongoing third Test match against England at Headingley. He played a gritty knock of unbeaten 91* off 180 deliveries, to allow India to end Day 3 with the scoreboard showing 215/2. As a result, former England cricketer, David Lloyd opined that Pujara was unable to score runs in the previous matches because the England bowlers had bowled to him around off-stump and tied him up.

David Lloyd was of the opinion in the second innings, the English bowlers looked exasperated against Pujara and fed him deliveries on the leg side. In his column for Daily Mail, he wrote,  “Cheteshwar Pujara has had a lean time in this series because England have done for him on and around off stump. But on Friday all the bowlers looked exasperated as they kept bowling leg side to him. It’s exactly where he wants it!”

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He further added, “Make no mistake: he’s a real sticker and has taken over from Rahul Dravid in this team. But in this innings, he was positively flowing. Whether they were looking for extravagant swing or not, they lost their discipline.”

The veteran Indian opener, Rohit Sharma also heaped praise on Pujara and reckoned that India’s Test specialist batted with intent in the second innings. The ‘Hitman’ further added that Pujara pounced on any loose delivery that was bowled to him by the England pacemen.

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Describing the same, Rohit Sharma said, “Yes, he definitely came with an intent to score runs. This innings of ours was never about survival. We had the intent to score runs and Pujara clearly showed that. The way he got off the mark and then carried on from there, anything loose, he was ready to pounce on it. It shows that he had intent in his batting and that really helps. When you have that sort of intent, any loose deliveries will not be spared.”