SA v IND 2018: Watch – Cheteshwar Pujara opens up about his hard grind at Wanderers

Pujara took 54-ball to open his account during the first days play at Wanderers.

Cheteshwar Pujara | GIANLUIGI GUERCIA-AFP-Getty Images

Amidst the overcast conditions on a greenish looking Wanderers pitch on Wednesday (January 24), India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara exhibited a great deal of patience and top-class defence to amass an unforgettable 50 off 179 balls.

Pujara came to the crease in 3.1 overs when India lost the wicket of KL Rahul for duck. However, it took India’s No. 3 a total of 54 balls to open his account while facing the fiery Proteas pace attack. Seeing Pujara’s constant struggle to search for his first run, things had got to a point where the crowd present in Johannesburg started to incite him for a single.

At last, when Pujara got his first run off Lungi Ngidi, everyone in the stadium cheered for the 30-year-old. In fact, India’s dressing room also had a sigh of relief.

After the end of first day’s play, Pujara stated that he was quite aware of the things going around him.

“Yes you do notice it, because there was a lot of noise from the crowd (laughs). And even personally, obviously I wanted to get off the mark. I wasn’t seeing the number of balls I was facing, but yeah, sometimes when there is lot of noise you do notice it. Even if you are concentrating, sometimes you hear a voice from the crowd,” said Pujara while addressing the media in Johannesburg.

Watch the video below (source: Hindustan Times YouTube channel):

 

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 25 Jan, 2018

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