Cheteshwar Pujara starred with the bat on Day 1 of the opening Test against Bangladesh at Chattogram on Wednesday (December 14).
When the visitors were struggling at 48/3, Pujara added 64 runs for the fourth wicket with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant (46) and followed it up with a 149-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer.
Just when it seemed that Pujara will notch up his much-awaited 19th Test ton, he perished on 90. His knock was studded with 11 boundaries.
Akshar Patel (14) also fell in quick succession as India finished the opening day at 278/6, with Shreyas Iyer still unbeaten at the crease on 82.
After the first day’s play, Pujara addressed a press conference where he said that he would happily take his 90-run knock on a “difficult track” which he feels will get worse by the day.
“It is not an easy pitch to bat on so I am really happy with the way I batted today. Sometimes more than three figure, you look at trying to put team in a winning situation,” Pujara, who hasn’t hit a Test century for nearly four years, told reporters.
“I am really happy today and not bothered about not getting a three-figure mark. I have been batting well and if I carry on like this, it will come soon,” he added.
According to Pujara, the Chattogram pitch is a result-oriented one with spinners set to play a big part as the Test match progresses.
“Looks like there will be a result and we needed runs on board. My partnership with Shreyas was important and also with Rishabh as there was a time when we had lost three wickets,” he said.
Pujara believes a first innings total of 350 could prove to be decisive in the first Test.
“If we would have ended the day at 4 or even 5 wickets, things would have been better. I still feel if we get 350 in the first innings, it will be a good score on this track as there is turn (on offer) and we have three spinners.
“Even when fast bowlers are bowling, the odd one is staying low. It will keep getting worse as time progresses,” Pujara shared his inputs on the track.
The biggest challenge as the pitch deteriorates will be the variable bounce.
“There was variable bounce and odd ball was keeping low even with the second new ball. It is easy once the ball gets older as bowlers also get tired. They can’t keep bowling same areas for longer time.
“We all know in case of Kookaburra, the first 30 overs are important. Once you get through that phase, it is still slightly easier. But still you need to concentrate hard,” he remarked.
(With PTI inputs)
