India indebted to Pujara grit

Adelaide – Cheteshwar Pujara (above) raced past 5 000 Test runs and on the way scored one of his best centuries yestersday, with the experienced No 3 crediting a stint at Yorkshire for helping him prepare.

The 30-year-old compiled a patient 123 in hot and difficult conditions at Adelaide Oval to help India stay in the first Test against Australia on 250/9 at stumps.

He rated his 16th Test ton as among his most memorable, hitting seven fours and two sixes in his 246-ball stay at the crease as wickets fell around him.

Pujara began slowly, grinding out ones and twos, and only really started going after the bowlers as they tired towards the end of a hot day.

He was run out attempting a quick single on the second-last ball of the day by a diving Pat Cummins.

“I was a bit disappointed but I had to take that single because only the last two balls were left and I thought I should be on strike, so I took the chance but he fielded brilliantly,” he explained.

Pujara tends not to play much white ball cricket and said the extra time he had to prepare for the Test series had paid dividends.

He said his innings had demonstrated that he was as comfortable scoring runs overseas as at home.

“It means a lot (the century), but I would also like to say that people say that I’ve scored more runs in India,” said the right-hander, who is playing in his 65th Test.

“But at the same time you need to look at the number of matches we play in India. So I will obviously score runs there.

“At times I’ve had bad phases playing overseas but I still feel very confident when it comes to different conditions.

“Playing county cricket has helped me a lot, and playing in England conditions are always challenging and when you come to Australia you know that it is slightly better.

“And as I said, I had a pretty decent time to prepare before this Test series.”

Pujara has had two stints as an overseas player for county side Yorkshire, in 2015 and again during the recent English summer. He has also appeared for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. –

I still feel very confident when it comes to different conditions.

Cheteshwar Pujara India No 3