England vs India 2018, 4th Test: Zainab Abbas Lauds Cheteshwar Pujara's 'Gritty' Knock

Team India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara stood up when it mattered the most. Having won the third Test at Trent Bridge, the visitors fancied equalling the series at Ageas Bowl in Southampton. The English bowlers floored the Indian middle order, but Pujara’s ton helped his side take the lead against England. One of the renowned sports anchors Zainab was impressed with the gritty ton.

It was Pujara’s 15th Test ton and fifth against the Three Lions. It was more special since it is his maiden ton in English condition. The batsman’s unbeaten 132 helped India post 273, taking a psychological 27-run lead. It was his second hundred outside the sub-continent since 2013.

The skipper Virat Kohli made the next highest score of the Indian innings. The in-form batsman scored 46 but missed out a good opportunity to get to yet another landmark.

Pujara rescues India from a precarious situation:

Zainab lauded the remarkable effort and backed Pujara. Apart from him, the Indian management was relieved too. The cricketer was having a rough patch and struggled to score in the United Kingdom (UK). He was dropped for the 1st Test at Edgbaston and made his way in the second Lord’s Test.

Pujara faced 257 balls, hit 16 boundaries and kept the run flow on.

“He was coming off a rough patch and also hadn’t really scored as many runs as he’d have liked in the last 10-11 innings for India,” batting coach Sanjay Bangar told the media.

England vs India, 2018: Here’s the latest tweet from Zainab Abbas:

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

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) August 31, 2018

“He was struggling a bit when he joined the team, but you cannot really make decisions based on how one does in the first-class format because he’s a proven international player. Obviously, certain areas had to be worked on. He had to get his balance and footwork right. Those were the two areas we worked on as a support-staff group, Ravi (Shastri) and myself. It’s heartening that the work that he put in was duly rewarded.” he added.

India will look to make inroads and get the hosts out cheaply. Cheteshwar Pujara not only rescued India from an embarrassing collapse but also set them up for a historic win against England.