India’s Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara fell just seven runs short of 200 on the second Day of the fourth and last Test match of ongoing Test series against Austalia on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Pujara walked in to bat at number three for India after an early dismissal of KL Rahul in the second over of the ongoing Test match and played the anchor’s role for the visiting team.
During his 193 runs knock, the 30-year-old stylish batsman displayed some elegant and attacking cricket as he smashed the Aussie bowlers all over the park.
With the help of his third ton on Thursday, Pujara has also become only the third Indian batsman to score three or more Test tons during a Test series in Australia after Sunil Gavaskar and Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
Following his brilliant batting at SCG, veteran cricketers and fans were full of praise for the stylish 30-year-old.
“Very happy for Pujara. Here is a player who knows his game inside out, is comfortable with who he is and how he plays and is just a simple, modest man. And that quality is a big part of his cricket,” wrote Harsha Bhogle on Twitter.
Former Indian turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar also heaped praises on Pujara for his masterclass batting.
“Calmness while batting, calmness in celebration. Pujara stands out in today’s frenetic world as he has done in this series.”
3 hundreds in the series, more than 400 runs, most of these made in masterly fashion. @cheteshwar1 has not merely blunted the Aussie attack, he’s nade it wilt. In many ways, he’s been the difference between the two sides. Epic performance!👏👏👏
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 3, 2019
The RESPECT you get as a cricketer for what @cheteshwar1 is doing in TEST CRICKET, is GREATER than any wonderfully skilful T20 innings.
Youngsters – look, learn & listen!
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) January 3, 2019
Pujara for endorsing Cement. You won’t find a better brand ambassador 😊🙌👍 #AusvInd #7Cricket @7Cricket @1116sen
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 3, 2019
Cheteshwar Pujara continues to stand strong and moves to 181* as India reach 389/5 at lunch on day two of the fourth Test in Sydney.#AUSvIND LIVE ➡️ https://t.co/c2fCH8CBUE pic.twitter.com/fxPz8C0gFG
— ICC (@ICC) January 4, 2019
Rishabh Pant (159*) and Ravindra Jadeja (81) build on Cheteshwar Pujara’s 193 lifting India to 622/7 before Kohli decided to declare.
Australia 24/0 at Stumps on Day 2.#CricketMeriJaan #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/v65NwdbpHc
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) January 4, 2019
He batted batted batted n batted wow wat a inings #cheteshwarpujara #TheWall #class this man making the test match alive in the era of T20 cricket. Ithula T10 cricket vera start pani irukanunga 😏 pic.twitter.com/zM196O3Omi
— Ramamoorthy (@chatonram) January 4, 2019
Cheteshwar Pujara has so far, batted for 1702 minutes ie 28 hours, 22 minutes in this series!
That is like batting all by himself for an entire five-day Test match!😱#AusvInd#AusvsInd— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 3, 2019
Chitt ke Ishwar, another name for Lord Shiva – Cheteshwar Pujara.
Destroyed Australia’s chances in the series, most number of balls batted by an Indian in a series against Australia. Outstanding 193, memorable knock pic.twitter.com/jEcTWhs7kQ— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 4, 2019
Masterclass Innings from The Wall 2.0🤘🤘👏👏❤️
Unfortunately Missed the Double Century. 😬#cheteshwarpujara#AUSvIND
— Subodh Agarwal🏏 (@SubodhAgarwal1) January 4, 2019
India’s Cheteshwar Pujara received a standing ovation from the Sydney crowd after being dismissed for 193 runs. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/1ZelVsBLAo
— Vishal Gadara (@VishalGadaraCC) January 4, 2019
What a incredible series for #CheteshwarPujara !!! Dear Brand Managers , Hope you sign him on now. I guess you won’t Coz your research company may not think he’s cool , If you want I will request him to get a tattoo & say cool things on social media, ok ?
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) January 3, 2019
Kohli-led Team India have already taken the lead of 2-1 in the ongoing four-match Test series against Australia.