Adelaide Test Day 1: Batting at snail's pace, Pujara has no regrets
Updated On: 18 December, 2020 08:09 AM IST | PTI
It took Cheteshwar Pujara 148 balls to get his first boundary but not for once did the senior India batsman feel that he batted too slowly during the opening day's play against Australia in the first pink ball Test here on Thursday
Cheteshwar Pujara in action against Australia on the opening day of the first Test. Pic/AFP
It took Cheteshwar Pujara 148 balls to get his first boundary but not for once did the senior India batsman feel that he batted too slowly during the opening day's play against Australia in the first pink ball Test here on Thursday. Pujara, who scored a sedate 43 off 160 balls in India's 233 for six at stumps on Day One, feels that a first innings total of 350 would be very handy for the visitors.
Asked if he felt that he could have paced his innings better, the Saurashtra man had an emphatic no for an answer. "Not at all. We were in a very good position in the first two sessions," said Pujara, defending the 41 scored by the team in the first session and 66 runs that were scored in the second.
"Strategy-wise, I don't think there is any regret about how we batted today. I thought it was a great day of Test cricket. There is enough in it for the bowlers. You have to respect it rather than going after the bowlers and losing more wickets in the first two sessions and end up getting bowled out in a day," said Pujara.
He also defended his batting as the wicket wasn't conducive for strokeplay. "Test cricket needs patience. If the wicket is flat, then you can be aggressive but when it's helping the bowlers, you can't play a lot of shots.
ADVERTISEMENT
Poll
Who will win the Punjab Elections?
"In overseas conditions, you don't want a total of less than 200 runs [in first innings]. In the first two sessions, the bowlers are fresh and the pitch is fresh," he said. Pujara believes skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane's dismissal provided a "little bit of advantage" to Australia.
Kohli's run out was massive, says Lyon
The run out of India skipper Virat Kohli was "massive" and it turned to be a momentum-shifting moment, says Australia spinner Nathan Lyon as the hosts snared quick wickets towards the end of the opening day of the first Test. "It was massive. A wicket like that, run out, especially of Virat is massive. He was batting pretty well, so happy with that," Lyon said.
Keep scrolling to read more news
Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.
Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news
Tags
Trending Stories
Latest Web Stories
Latest Photos
06 August, 2026 08:34 PM IST | In Photos: Hiroshima Day Silent Peace March 2026
Preshit Deorukhkar
17 December, 2025 11:56 AM IST | IN PHOTOS: MLAs at Vidhan Bhavan during Maharashtra Legislative Council polls
Asif Ali Sayed
09 September, 2024 09:32 PM IST | IN PHOTOS: People in Mumbai celebrate Gauri Puja during Ganeshotsav
Asif Ali Sayed
09 September, 2024 09:13 PM IST | IN PHOTOS: Mumbai witnesses sunny weather as rains take a break
Asif Ali Sayed
Latest Videos
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest Headlines
12 August, 2026 07:33 PM IST | Oshin Fernandes
10 August, 2026 07:17 PM IST | Test Tushar
10 August, 2026 11:49 AM IST | Makepeace Sitlhou
06 August, 2026 08:34 PM IST | Preshit Deorukhkar