Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara lost his wicket in an unusual manner on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test in Chennai on Sunday (February 7) – which refreshed the memories of Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal in a similar fashion in the famous 2000-01 Test series against Australia.
In the 51st over of India’s first innings in Chennai, Pujara pulled a short delivery from England’s young off-spinner Bess, but unfortunately, the shot got deflected off the short-leg fielder Ollie Pope and then popped up straight to short mid-wicket fielder Rory Burns.
Burns pouched it safely to send the Indian batsman back to the pavilion after scoring a brilliant 73 on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test.
Reacting to his unusual dismissal, the veteran right-hander was disappointed and felt a bit unlucky, but he said it was the only way he could have got out because as a batsman, he couldn’t do much in that situation.
He had stitched a 119-run stand for the fifth wicket with Rishabh Pant before being dismissed for 73 to help India recover from 73/4 at one stage to 192 in reply to England's 578 in Chennai.
Pujara said, “Yeah it was [disappointing]. That is something [about] which I can't do much as a batsman. It was just unlucky. I would say that. That is the only way I could have got out. I was batting really well. The way I was playing my shots. The way I was seeing the ball. Everything was perfect.”
He further added, “That was the most unfortunate way, one can imagine. So I am a bit disappointed. There is nothing I can do as a batsman. That wasn't any technical error. I was trying to put that away. It hit the short-leg fielder. So can't help it.”
On India’s early batting collapse, Pujara said: “We just wanted to bat normally. The conditions are different. When we are playing in India, the scoring rate is on the higher side and we were getting loose balls. Rishabh (Pant) always bats the way he bats. He always likes to take the bowlers on.”
He signed off by saying, “Even with Ajinkya (Rahane), the ball was there, it was a full toss. You got to put those balls away. Unfortunately, it went straight to covers. But otherwise nine out of 10 times you would have hit that for a four. That happens.”
Notably, in the first Test back in 2001 against Australia in Mumbai, Tendulkar, who was batting at no.5 was reviving Indian innings after India conceded 173 runs in the first innings as the hosts were at 154 with just two wickets down against Australia.
However, the legendary batsman pulled a delivery off Mark Waugh and the ball deflected off the back of the short-leg just like Pujara and went straight to Ricky Ponting who grabbed it easily and he eventually dismissed for 65 and India bowled out for 219 and lost the game by 10 wickets.
(With IANS Inputs)
