Cheteshwar Pujara Reveals The Moment When Team India's Innings Got Derailed In The Sydney Test
Published - 09 Jan 2021, 07:21 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:39 AM
Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has reckoned that the dismissal of wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant proved to be the turning point for the visitors on day 03 of the ongoing Sydney Test.
After having lost two quick wickets in the form of skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari in the first hour of the morning session, the duo of Pujara and Rahane resurrected the fledgling ship with a 53-run-stand for the fifth wicket. The duo looked pretty comfortable against the Australian bowlers but just as it looked like they were on their way to post a substantial stand, Pant edged one straight to the slip cordon.
The wicket of Pant kickstarted yet another Indian collapse as Cheteshwar Pujara went in the very next over, eventually leading to India getting dismissed for 244. Pujara said that their goal during the Lunch break was to get as close to Australia’s total, something that they missed out on doing by a huge margin
“If you look at the way our innings was progressing, we were in trouble when Rishabh got out, apart from that, till then we were in a comfortable position. We were 180/4 but things turned once Rishabh (Pant) got out, and then I got out. We did not score too many after that. I thought losing Pant was a turnaround; our aim was to get to around 330-340, but we missed out there,” Cheteshwar Pujara said.
Apart from the collapse, India suffered two more body blows on day 03 as Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja suffered injuries. While Pant suffered a severe blow on his left elbow while trying to pull Pat Cummins, Ravindra Jadeja coped a painful blow on his thumb thanks to a brutal bumper by Mitchell Starc.
Commenting on the injuries that the duo suffered, Cheteshwar Pujara said that while he doesn’t know the exact status of their respective injuries, he hailed both Pant and Jadeja as vital members of the team. He also said that whatever happens with the duo, he and the entire team will be gunning to put on a good show on Sunday.
“Well when Rishabh got hit, I was not aware as to how bad it was. I don’t know about the results of his scans, will know about it later. Both Pant and Jadeja are important members of the team, whatever happens with them, I still feel we will have to put on a good show tomorrow,” Cheteshwar Pujara added.
Meanwhile, according to reports in the media, while Rishabh Pant will be available to bat in India’s second innings, Ravindra Jadeja seems to have developed a fracture, which not only rules him out of the Test match but also from the series.
Also Read: I Am Confident About My Batting: Cheteshwar Pujara
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