The four-game test series between India and Australia has considered being one of the most competitive test series in recent times. The series produced many exciting moments for fans, as both sides were eager to prove their dominance in the field. Visitors Australia, under the leadership of Steve Smith, almost toppled the Indian team to win the historical series.
Besides, the Aussies took 276 runs in their first innings on the back of the half-century from Shaun Marsh and Matt Renshaw. Another loss was looming over India’s head, but it was Cheteshwar Pujara‘s gritty 92-run hit in the second inning that made a difference. Pujara (92) and Rahane (52) have driven India to a total of 274, and Australia has bundled with 112 in the second inning. Ashwin played a pivotal role in India’s 75-run victory as he scalded six wickets at the final test innings.
Ashwin and Pujara recalled the memory of that emphatic win on Monday. Reminiscent of the match-winning stand with Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara said he felt pressure when he walked out to beat in the second inning. Pujara said that the Australian players were sledding the Indian duo as if they had already won the match.
‘I felt pressure when I walked to bat’: Cheteshwar Pujara
“For me, I think the first test match ... when we lost, we all sat down together and had a chat. In the 4-Test series, it’s always hard to make a comeback after being 1-0 down,” said Pujara.
“We didn’t bat well in the first innings (Bengaluru Test). So I felt a lot of pressure when I walked into it. But after the first innings, Anil Bhai (Kumble) had a chat with me about how to tackle Nathan Lyon. I went to the NCA and worked on a couple of things that helped me.
“But I felt the pressure as I walked into the bat (2nd inning). The kind of sledding they did, I thought they were a little ahead of what they wanted to do. They thought the process was … they felt that they had won the game,” he added.
“I was with Ajinkya (Rahane) by Teatime, we were in the dressing room, and they were sledding as if they had won the game. That’s when things turned around, I felt, “said the Saurashtra batsman.
