SL v IND, 2nd Test, Day 1: CT Player of the day - Cheteshwar Pujara

In an era of EDM, Rap and Hard Rock music, Cheteshwar Pujara’s batting is reminiscent of a fact that nothing can beat the essence of old school classical music. Classic when he cuts the ball, resilient when he defends and vivacious when he dances down the ground. The 29-year-old’s knock on Day 1 of the second Test was all about high-quality batting, which brought up his 13th Test match hundred.

Shikhar Dhawan was off to a blazing start scoring 35 off 37 balls but was rapped on the pads of Dilruwan Perera and walked back to the gallery. In came Pujara, who was playing his 50th Test match for the country and right from the outset, he looked rock solid as though he has been batting for days.

It took him a while though to score runs at a brisk pace but the scoring rate never came down as KL Rahul at the other end went all guns blazing. Rahul completed his half-century just before the first session came to a close whilst Pujara remained not out on 14 off 58 deliveries at Lunch. It was quintessential “Pujara’s way” of beginning a marathon knock and he upped the ante in the following sessions, in some style.

Fight back from hosts, but Pujara remains calm and strong

A horrendous mix-up while attempting a single that wasn’t there cost India Rahul’s wicket and skipper Virat Kohli was trapped with some terrific spin bowling from the veteran Rangana Herath. With India tangling in a predicament at 133/3, two most technically sound players in Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were at the crease.

Sri Lanka missed the trick and allowed Indian batters to pick up singles easily with two fielders on the boundary rope and barely anyone in catching positions. These are two players who will never loft the ball straight down the throat of that one loitering fielder on the boundary and Herath paid for his mistakes big time.

Pujara brought up his 4,000 runs in Test cricket as well with a brace towards fine-leg. He kept picking singles and the occasional boundary was coming so easily that India literally batted them out of the game within a span of 20 overs after losing two quick wickets. Spinners lacked consistency and Pujara was never going to let the opportunities go. He even clobbered a six towards midwicket off a short delivery from Pushpakumara.

In the 48th over, he brought up his fifty and the innings picked up some pace there after as Rahane too was timing the ball beautifully. Spinners were taken for a lot of boundaries in the next few overs until the end of the second session and India scored at more than 4 an over post Lunch.

After tea, Pujara brought up his hundred and became the seventh India to register three figures in his 50th Test. The third session was more about Rahane and he completed his 9th Test match hundred as the day came to a close. Pujara silently played the day out, finishing on 128 off 225 balls and is well on course for another gigantic score.