The stakes are high as India takes on England in the third Test of the five-match Test series at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. The pressure was on Indian batsmen again as they were asked to bat first by England captain Joe Root. It was a fair start by Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul but Cheteshwar Pujara became the talking point after the first session.
First, Pujara asked Rahul to opt for the Decision Review System (DRS). Rahul was plumb in front of the wicket and he started walking as soon as the umpire’s finger went up but Pujara insisted that he should opt for the review. The replay showed that the ball was hitting the stumps and hence cost India a review early into the first innings.
After two quick wickets from Chris Woakes, India was looking to end the first session with Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli on the crease. However, Pujara decided to take on Woakes and played an aerial pull shot off the bouncer. He timed the ball well but found Adil Rashid at the deep square leg.
Pujara played that shot out of character. Usually, he does not play reckless shots like that in Test cricket. He got out for 14 runs off 31 balls at the stroke of lunch putting India on the back foot.
Here’s how tweeple reacted to the series of events:
I think we might have seen the last of Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay in indian whites . #ENGvIND
— Anish Ancil (@anishancil) August 18, 2018
Virat Kohli watching Cheteshwar Pujara attempt a pull shot in the last over before lunch. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/wwtPOCOTzM
— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) August 18, 2018
Cheteshwar Pujara would dearly love an ‘Undo’ option today.#ENGvIND
— North Stand-Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) August 18, 2018
Sage words of wisdom to Cheteshwar Pujara:
“Resist the temptation of hook and hookah. You may not be able keep both of them down” #ENGvIND #INDvENG #INDvsENG
— Venkatraman Ganesan (@venky1976) August 18, 2018
Cheteshwar #Pujara is fast becoming an endangered species in the game.
— caught@point (@caughtatpoint17) August 18, 2018
Who ever said #CheteshwarPujara is another “TheWall” is absolutely right… only difference is that this Wall has holes in it…
— madhuusv (@madhuusv) August 18, 2018
EXCLUSIVE: Photo of Cheteshwar Pujara telling KL Rahul to take the review.#ENGvIND #ENGvsIND #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/lRRq1zAPSh
— CricBlog (@cric_blog) August 18, 2018
Cheteshwar Pujara has been dismissed playing the hook/pull shot four times in Test cricket, but today was the first time in five years. #ENGvIND https://t.co/u5AnUdbLrp
— #PTVSPORTS #PakvEng (@UrduPtvSports) August 18, 2018
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Pujara has not been successful like most batsmen in the series so far. There have been talks surrounding his strike rate, too. However, former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar said that ‘just leave Pujara alone and let him do his thing’. The second innings of the third Test will be crucial for the 30-year-old.
