Cheteshwar Pujara has once again scored a century against Australia after Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and asked his side to bat first in the fourth Test match of the series at Sydney.
India went in with two changes and KL Rahul was back at the top of the order. But he fell early and Pujara had to yet again negotiate the new ball. The Saurashtra batsman got able company from opener Mayank Agarwal who scored 77.
Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane fell cheaply but Pujara was his usual meditative self at the crease, hardly distracted by anything happening around him. He took a special liking to part-time leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne as he hit the Aussie for 12 runs in one over.
Pujara brought up his century with a trademark whip shot to a Mitchell Starc delivery that reached the leg side boundary piercing the gap between deep square leg and fine leg. This was the batsman's third century of the series. His previous hundreds came in winning causes for his country at Adelaide and Melbourne.
Pujara has batted for more than 22 hours in this series and is also the highest run-getter. Thus, as Pujara's love story against Australia continued on the first day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Twitter hailed the Indian batsman.
Pujara to Australian bowlers.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ACtmPKtYO7
— _chetan_ (@trust_my_lies) January 3, 2019
Pujara vs rest of #TeamIndia performance in #AUSvIND #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/xoAGsSBetK
— Gajender Rajpurohit (@gajender00) January 3, 2019
Eat...
— ℐ A ℕ A▶ (@iamjana__) January 3, 2019
Sleep...
Bat...
Repeat Century..
The name is @cheteshwar1 ??.
This is absolutely special hundred in @scg.. Congratulations #Pujara.??.#AUSvIND
1. KL Rahul
— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) January 3, 2019
2. Pujara#AusvInd pic.twitter.com/9nqMpTHFMK
Pujara ? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/dJiRatrZGB
— Why So Silly® (@silly_why) January 3, 2019
CheteshWALL!!!? #AUSvIND #tensports pic.twitter.com/3ufAEyx6F8
— Malay P Anjaria (@MPAnjaria35) January 3, 2019
“This man just bats, and bats and bats!” - Mr. Cricket ?
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) January 3, 2019
Take a bow, Pujara. This is a special hundred at the SCG ??#CricketMeriJaan #AUSvIND
#Pujara scoring a century @ strike rate of more than 50. A rare sighting in test cricket.. well done @cheteshwar1 . #AUSvIND #SydneyTest pic.twitter.com/2D6acnZVBv
— Raja Reeshav Roy (@rajareeshav) January 3, 2019
Pujara
— Apurv Nagpal (@apurvnagpal) January 3, 2019
Awesomeness#AUSvIND #SCG
You deserve an applause from @VancityReynolds pic.twitter.com/opC9EzLauu
Is Pujara replica of Dravid ? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/wM3WVpN3mW
— Gowtham™ (@GowthamAce) January 3, 2019
Just another day at the office for #TheWall
— Nautilus Mobile (@NautilusMobile) January 3, 2019
Well played #Pujara ??#SydneyTest #AUSvIND #RealCricket18 pic.twitter.com/T72qysCtLD