'We Ended Up Putting 250': Cheteshwar Pujara Rates His Special Inning Against Australia

During the 2019-19 tour of Australia, India defeated the Kangaroos 2-1 in their own backyard where Pujara was the leading run-scorer of the series after collecting 521 runs from four matches.

India’s Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara’s record against Australia is commendable. He is one of the most highly-rated batters in the red ball format. During the 2019-19 tour of Australia, India defeated the Kangaroos 2-1 in their own backyard where Pujara was the leading run-scorer of the series after collecting 521 runs from four matches. He also scored three centuries and one half-century.

When the no. 3 batter was told to rate his best knock, he said that its is difficult for him to rate them. In an interview with the Times of India, he said, "Each and every knock of mine is important for me. It will be difficult to rate them. But what I can do is mention some of my favourite knocks against Australia, not ranking-wise, though. I'll start with my debut innings. When you are playing debut game, it's always important. I'll always remember those 72 runs that I scored. There was a lot of pressure on me. As a youngster, I was anxious, I hadn't done well in the first innings. Since I had scored a lot of runs in domestic cricket, I wanted to prove that I belong to the international level.

"After that, the 92 against Australia (in the second innings) in Bangalore in 2017. We were on the backfoot. We had been out cheaply in the first innings, they had a 87-run lead, and in the second innings, we were 120 for 4. And then I had a match-defining 118-run partnership with Ajinkya, and my knock was decisive too.

“And then the 123 at Adelaide in December 2018 will always remain very special for me and the team, because we were 41 for 4, and then 127 for 6 in the first innings, and I had little partnerships with Rohit (Sharma) and Ashwin and then with the tailenders, and we ended up putting 250 on the board. That was a special knock because it allowed our bowlers to bowl them to bowl out for 235 and be in the game. Of course, I can't forget the 56 at the Gabba in January 2021. It was a special knock for me because when you get hit so many times, to still be able in the middle. It was a different motivation altogether to win that Test and series, to keep fighting against such a good bowling lineup. The circumstances weren't favourable for the batsmen. So you had to fight your way out.”

The two sides will once again be fighting with each other in a highly anticipated Test series, which starts on February 9 in Nagpur.