IND V ENG 2nd Test: Faster, bolder; meet Pujara 2.0

IND V ENG 2nd Test: Faster, bolder; meet Pujara 2.0

New Delhi: A Pujara of old would have been extra careful in the nineties, nudging the ball to pinch a single here and there, resisting himself as much as possible to play away from the body, but not this Cheteshwar Pujara. The Pujara 2.0 rocks on to the backfoot and pulls the ball with utmost power, depositing it into the stands to reach his 10th Test match hundred and his third consecutive one.  

"Completing hundred with a six was special to me. As I started well in the first Test and getting a century at home was special to me. I just wanted to continue my form and wanted to capitalise," said, Pujara.

It takes a lot to believe that Pujara who scored 119 with 12 fours and 2 sixes to take India to a commanding position at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test match at Vizag, had lost his place in the side due to his inability to keep the scoreboard ticking in the Caribbean. Perhaps the jolt acted as the right catalyst to spring life into his batting. 

Pujara, though, states not a lot has changed in his batting apart from his intent to score quickly. "I have not changed much as far as technique is concerned. It's just the intent. The way I started off against New Zealand I was just missing out on 100s. I spoke to Anilbhai and he told me 'there's nothing wrong in the way I'm batting. Probably the area which I can improve is the 'intent' and that's what I worked on," Pujara said.

He indeed showed a lot of intent in his batting today. Pujara had a career strike of 46.83 at the start of the New Zealand series, which he turned it around completely as he slammed an unbeaten 101 at a strike rate off 68.24 in the last Test at Indore. The road has been uphill since then.

If Rajkot, his hometown was the announcement of Pujara 2.0 then today’s innings at Vizag was the stoning on the wall. Pujara matched Kohli stroke for stroke and at times even outdid him with his aggression. He skipped down the track to hit Ansari down the ground; he drove Moeen Ali pass mid-on at least four times and he smashed Broad whenever he pitched it short outside the off stump.   

Pujara was in no mood to let the England spinners dictate terms as he came down the track to pummel Ali down the ground, even after Virat Kohli had taken 9 runs in that over. He along with captain Kohli stitched together a 226 run partnership for the third wicket after India had lost Rahul and Vijay with just 22 on the board. 

Giving a lot of credit to captain Virat Kohli, he said: "He (Virat) likes to play his shots. I always enjoy batting with him. He likes to dominate. We just wanted to capitalise on the situation. I enjoyed batting with him."

Not that Pujara was shying off from a challenge. He was not afraid to take the aerial root when Ansari dropped it midway on the pitch as he helped himself to two sixes over mid-wicket, the only ones of the entire day. 

When he looked set for yet another double century, Anderson found the outside edge of his bat to dismiss him for 119. Pujara though had done his job, he had taken India to a commanding position and more importantly had given India a faster, bolder No.3.