Pujara finds a shoulder to cry after dreadful day

Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped for the first Test, was a victim of a horrible mix-up in the first innings of the second Test, got his off-stump uprooted in the 2nd innings after doing all the hard work and yet, surpassing all, Day 1 of the third Test was the worst day of his second England tour. It could have turned out to be the worst of his career had he not got the support of his assistant coach.

Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped for the first Test, was a victim of a horrible mix-up in the first innings of the second Test, got his off-stump uprooted in the 2^nd innings after doing all the hard work and yet, surpassing all, Day 1 of the third Test was the worst day of his second England tour. It could have turned out to be the worst of his career had he not got the support of his assistant coach.

India assistant coach Sanjay Bangar was the only one, at least on the public domain, to stand firmly behind Pujara after his forgetful outing on Day 1, when even captain Virat Kohli had deserted him while walking out at lunch of the third Test match.

“Things are going to change very quickly for Pujara, he is just one knock away from getting his rhythm back,” Bangar said in a post-match press conference at Trent Bridge.   

The sun had turned its back on Pujara right from the onset. He had just walked into the crease with the expectation of building on the solid foundation laid by the openers Rahul and Dhawan. He was yet to figure out the pace of the pitch when his error of judgment cost India dearly.

It wasn’t Pujara who got out, it was Rahul. Pujara had no role in Rahul’s LBW, at least till the time he didn’t him force him into wasting a review. Yes, in absolute bizarre turn of events, Pujara, the non-striker, literally called Rahul back, who didn’t even wait for the umpire’s finger, for he knew he was plumb and asked to use a DRS. The result was an embarrassing three reds in ball-tracking – India lost a review because of Pujara in the first session itself. The day was about to get worse for India’s no. 3 in a few minutes.

A minute away from lunch and a session to India’s name, Pujara played a hook shot that he wouldn’t like to recall even for a million dollars. His rush of blood not only brought about his downfall for 14 but also gave England a foot in the door right at the stroke of lunch.

Chris Woakes, the only successful bowler in the first session, banged the ball in the middle of the pitch more in quest of trying something different than having any definite plan when Pujara swivelled onto his backfoot and attempted an adventurous hook. The knee-jerk reaction was similar to what one will have after waking up from a nightmare. For Pujara, the nightmare had just begun.

Not getting the desired timing or the elevation, Pujara was holed out at fine leg by Adil Rashid and the look on his face said it all. The look on the non-striker – Virat Kohli – conveyed a lot more.

Bangar though, threw his weight behind Pujara. "That was a ball which had to be hit and it only goes on to show that he is in a positive frame of mind," Bangar said.

Thankfully, for Pujara and India, his reckless shot did not cost India as Kohli (97) put on a 157-run stand with Rahane (81) for the fourth wicket and India ended Day 1 with their noses ever so slightly in front at 307 for six.