4. Cheteshwar Pujara (India) 123 – against Australia at Adelaide

Indian Test specialist batsman Cheteshwar Pujara had a very impressive year in 2018 and his match-winning knock of 123 runs against the hosts Australia in Adelaide (match started on 6 December) was one of the best knocks in that year. In that series opener game, India decided to bat first after winning the toss but the visiting side was losing their wickets in regular intervals.

Apart from the no.3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, none other Indian batsmen played the responsible knocks in that innings. After India was down to 41/4, there were some crucial partnerships till the last moment of that innings and most of the times, Pujara led those partnerships to stretch India’s innings.

While Pujara lost his wicket as the ninth wicket of that innings, he scored 123 runs off 246 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes. With the help of that innings, India scored 250 runs in that innings. The second highest knock in that innings was 37 runs by Rohit Sharma.

In reply, Australia was bundled out for 235 runs. India scored 307 runs in their second innings, thanks to Pujara’s another 71 runs (204 balls; 9 fours) and Ajinkya Rahane’s 70 runs. Chasing down the 323 runs target, Australian middle-orders and tail-enders fought impressively but they were bundled out on 291 runs and India won by 31 runs. Pujara won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant batting performances in both the innings.