India vs Sri Lanka: In comeback Test, Cheteshwar Pujara proves his worth

Rohit Sharma (L) scored 26 but Cheteshwar Pujara played a fighting innings of 135*. (Source: AP)

Nothing could have offered a greater contrast. Very early into his innings, Rohit Sharma jumped out to Rangana Herath and mistimed a lofted drive. It should have been a comfortable catch at mid-on but Nuwan Pradeep was too slow to react and Rohit got a four instead. Another stroke of luck for the Indian batsman, who had already survived a very close leg before appeal.

At the other end, Cheteshwar Pujara was fighting tooth and nail to keep his team in the contest. Asked to bat on a seaming pitch, India were in trouble at 64 for three. Discipline had become the need of the hour and Pujara showed plenty of it.

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Rohit, on the other hand, got out after getting his eye in, lunging forward and nicking a widish delivery from Dhammika Prasad. He didn’t have the stomach for a fight. India went deeper in the mire when Stuart Binny departed next ball. Pujara had to be there to restore respectability.

Pujara had been made an outcast because the new Indian team management wanted to accommodate Rohit in the playing XI. The Saurashtra batsman had struggled last season. Not that he was out of touch but concentration seemed to be a problem. He was not converting his starts. A total of 222 runs in five Tests (one half-century) in England last year was mediocre. In Australia, a few months later, he had started off well with a 135-ball 73 in Adelaide but a slump ensued. He was eventually left out of the team in the final Test at Sydney as Virat Kohli permanently took over the reins in the longer format. The new captain liked Rohit’s shot-making ability and was ready to back him to the hilt.

Pujara wouldn’t have played this Test if Murali Vijay or Shikhar Dhawan was fit. He was included as a stop-gap opener because the team management didn’t have any other option. It was a make-or-break affair for Pujara and he passed the test with flying colours.

A sharp single to mid-off took him to his seventh Test hundred, perhaps the most important of his career that came after a gap of 20 months. It was a top effort and even the Sri Lankan captain was applauding. Hopefully it will help Pujara cement his place in the team. An omission after this would be preposterous.

To his credit, Pujara never allowed the setbacks to cover his countenance. After being dropped from the Test team, he started to work harder in the nets. After being ignored in the IPL auction, he went to play County cricket for Yorkshire. The experience has made him a better batsman. The ball is still doing a fair bit on this SSC surface. But Pujara was composure personified. Yes, he scored at a strike-rate of 48.73. But Test match batting thrives in patience and application, not in lazy elegance.

The day belonged to Pujara but for a while towards the end, Amit Mishra shone bright, playing some gorgeous shots and scoring 59. The two added 104 runs for the eight wicket. It might prove to be the turning point in this rain-interrupted game.