Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test Match, Day 1: 5 Talking Points

3. The Pujara Redemption

After running out his partner, who was looking a class apart with his breezy innings, Pujara took it upon himself to cover up for Rahul’s quota of runs as he remained unbeaten throughout the innings with his 128 off 225 balls. His innings came at a strike rate of 57, which is commendable as his innings started out on a watchful note. After the century at Galle, Pujara continued where he left off as he put on a show a typical Pujara innings, i.e., solid as a rock at the first and gaining momentum later in the afternoon. Be it runs in Bengaluru on a dustbowl, or the green pitches in Trent Bridge, Pujara’s flow of runs continues to unstemmed.

He also took India into a strong position, stitching a vital partnership with Ajinkya Rahane, yet again, which brought back the memories from the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the second innings against the Australia. India was in a spot of bother after losing Kohli with just 133 on the board. Together with Rahane, Pujara took the Indian side to a position of dominance, where they can think of the 600-mark in the first innings, thereby, redeeming himself after running KL out.