Twitter salutes Cheteshwar Pujara for his gutsy century in Southampton

England staged a fantastic comeback in the ongoing fourth Test in Southampton. Moeen Ali has wrecked the visitors with regular strikes who were looking comfortable at one stage. But Cheteshwar Pujara was unperturbed. He looked solid right from the word go and once again showed his class on a wearing pitch. In the process, India’s number three brought up his 15th Test century which should go down as one of his best overseas knocks.

Pujara came out to bat after KL Rahul was trapped in front of the stumps by Stuart Broad. He took his own time to get settled and played out back-to-back dot balls. There was a phase when literally no runs came but he didn’t make any mistake and kept waiting for a bad ball to arrive. He got an able partner in Virat Kohli as well with the run-scoring increasing.

The duo added 92 runs for the third wicket and kept the team ahead. England were trying hard but Pujara was adamant on digging it down this time around. They tried to bounce him out as well but India’s new wall didn’t play a hook shot and kept his composure. But Kohli’s wicket turned things around dramatically.

Pujara keeps his cool amidst the collapse

India collapsed suddenly after the tea break and it looked like they will finish well short of England’s score. But Cheteshwar Pujara was undone yet. At 195/8, he joined hands with Ishant Sharma and they stitched 32 runs for the ninth wicket. But the lanky Indian was dismissed by Moeen Ali with his partner at 96 and the doubts lingered over his century.

But Pujara was all about team first and made sure that he farmed more strike despite a hundred there for the taking. Finally, he stepped out and played a lofted shot over Ali’s head and ran a couple to celebrate his first overseas ton in last five years. The crowd and his teammates stood up in applause as he soaked in every bit of it. Even Twitterati hailed him for a steely knock and wanted him to score more.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to a stupendous ton:

Determined @cheteshwar1 was a joy to watch. Crucial innings… match wide open… #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/n1unlYpgjl

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 31, 2018

What a magnificent test match 💯 from @cheteshwar1 resolute in defence, clinical in attack! #ENGvIND

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) August 31, 2018

Any kid thinking I don’t have enough talent to make it, look at Pujara, that’s your role model right there.#Grit

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) August 31, 2018

Great Test Ton by @cheteshwar1 …worthy of being spoken in same breath as any knock by any other Indian away frm the Asian Subcontinent.!Yesterday I thought Indns allowed Eng a fair cushion..Eng seems to b returning the compliment..!!!

— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) August 31, 2018

Thanks for keeping the old school Test cricket alive. Well played, Pujara. Well played. 🙌😊🏏👏🇮🇳#engvind

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 31, 2018

Unbelievable knock from Pujara, great example of application n grit. Take a bow #INDvENG

— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) August 31, 2018

Standing ovation and very rightly so for @cheteshwar1. Brilliant innings amidst the usual carnage that Indian batters are used to these days #ENGvIND

— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) August 31, 2018

Well done @cheteshwar1 top inn.. well deserved 100 👏👏 #ENGvIND 4th Test

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 31, 2018

Well done on your #100 @cheteshwar1 solid knock that 👏👏 #ENGvsIND

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 31, 2018

Fantastic, selfless innings from @cheteshwar1 . Has single handedly kept India in the game with his resilience and determination.

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 31, 2018

Love the way @cheteshwar1 plays … !!! He plays Test cricket how it should be played … #ENGvIND … Fantastic 💯

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 31, 2018

With all the talk about Pujara’s overseas performance or lack of,this is a gritty knock. #INDvsENG

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) August 31, 2018

Cheteshwar Pujara, you beauty! An innings of class, elegance, patience to bring up his 15th Test ton. An underrated cricketer, he's ensured India don't waste their bowlers' efforts in this game. After a long time a Pujara ton, then. Well done! #ENGvIND

— S. Sudarshanan (@Sudarshanan7) August 31, 2018

Top hundred from a top man. It's been a long time coming. Well played Cheteshwar Pujara.

— Mrinal Narang (@narangmrinal) August 31, 2018

Fantastic Hundred!! by Cheteshwar Pujara, by far the best knock of his career & most important one as well, go on Che! #ENGvIND

— Captain 🏏 (@iEatCricket) August 31, 2018

Centuries like that not only wins heart but makes you a firm believer and admirer of orthodox batting style in #testcricket. A diligent, composed and strong-willed #CheteshwarPujara scores an industrious century to keep #India in advantage slot. #ENGvIND

— Reema Malhotra (@ReemaMalhotra8) August 31, 2018

#INDvENG Now, the grinder gets his reward for patience. #CheteshwarPujara hits 100 out a India's 235/9. This is the rice hundred, compared with #Virat @imVkohli 's curry special. You can now trot out all the virtues of perseverance. Great effort, India benefits

— Arrackistan (@johncheeran) August 31, 2018

💯 up for Cheteshwar Pujara … 15th Test Hundred off him…… An excellent player showing his class…

— T Sai Siddartha (@TSaiSiddartha) August 31, 2018

Hundred for Cheteshwar Pujara What a champion.

— Muhammad Qasim Iftik (@Qasimifti) August 31, 2018

Congratulations to Cheteshwar Pujara for his brilliant 15th Test Century and first against England what a player he is truly superb performance saves Team India like a boss single handley #ENGvIND

— Siddhartha Saxena (@koolsiddharth11) August 31, 2018

Pure Class!
Well Played Cheteshwar Pujara!#ENGvIND

— Abhi Silswal (@AbhiSilswal707) August 31, 2018

#INDvENG Wonderful batting by #CheteshwarPujara He is only saving grace otherwise pathetic batting display by Indian.

— Arvind Vishwakarma (@ArvindVishwak10) August 31, 2018

I am glad Cheteshwar Pujara scored a century, now he wont be dropped for next match atleast! 😊 #IndVsEng

— Hariom Kumar (@hkumar26) August 31, 2018

Well deserved century for @cheteshwar1 💯What a paitences he has show and proved it. Congratulations champ!#india #cricket #cheteshwarpujara#savour

— Bhavin Parmar (@parmarbhavin45) August 31, 2018

There it is!!!
Career retaining Century from the Cheteshwar Pujara.
He has been rock solid all throughout this innings!!!#IREvAFG #INDvENG #CheteshwarPujara

— CricfreakZ (@cricfreakz) August 31, 2018

15th Test Century for #CHETESHWAR_PUJARA
Congratulations 👍🏏👌🏼👏🏼🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/a5j5M9h6j9

— Thanujan92 (@Thanujan92) August 31, 2018

Very happy for Cheteshwar Pujara, good old fashioned test player👏👏#ENGvsIND

— Ajesh Philip (@ajeshphilip) August 31, 2018

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