Lone ranger

Adelaide, December 6 

An Indian rescue mission seemingly tailor-made for Virat Kohli instead fell to Cheteshwar Pujara who took his captain's 'Superman' cape and struck a vital century to save the tourists on Day 1 of the series-opening Test against Australia.

After Kohli was swept away for just three runs in a maelstrom of dismal shot-making, Pujara carved out a sparkling 123 to guide India to 250/9 at stumps on a scorching hot day here today.

Battling a hamstring strain in the final session, the 30-year-old Saurashtra player produced a masterclass in game management through his 246-ball knock.

Watchful early against Australia's vaunted pace attack, he then hammered them with an assault on the second new ball late in the day. It took a brilliant piece of fielding by Pat Cummins to remove Pujara with the last ball of the day, the paceman finding the energy to swoop in and throw down the stumps despite bowling 19 overs in the stifling conditions.

Though disappointed, Pujara strode off to a standing ovation in the terraces having steered India to a respectable total after they were reduced for 41/4 in a disastrous first session.

“It was one of my top innings in Test cricket, I could say top five,” the India No. 3 told said. “I can't rate whether it was one of the best but the teammates who were appreciating said that this is one of the best.  I think it was tough considering the weather, it was quite hot, we are used to it in India but still it was hot and humid.” 

Tim Paine's Australia will have felt hugely relieved to see the back of Pujara on this day at least. The batsman has been a thorn in the side since his 2010 debut against Ricky Ponting's team in Bangalore, when he scored a second innings 72 to steer India to a seven-wicket victory.

He has since feasted on a string of Australian teams, scoring 204 against Michael Clarke's side in the 2013 Hyderabad Test and 202 in Ranchi against Steve Smith's men last year.

But his first ton on Australian soil may feel the sweetest, especially after his disappointing first tour in 2014/15, when India lost 2-0 despite a mountain of runs from Kohli. 

Poor shot selection 

India's talisman Kohli was also removed by inspired fielding, with Usman Khawaja pinching a stunning one-handed catch with a full-stretch leap at gully. Kohli was among five of India's top six batsmen to give up their wickets with loose shots, leaving Pujara to salvage a total from the rubble. “To be honest we should have batted better but they also bowled well ,” said Pujara. — Reuters

Pujara matches Dravid as he enters 5K club

Cheteshwar Pujara got to 5000 Test runs in 108 innings, same as Rahul Dravid, the man he succeeded at No. 3. Interestingly, Pujara also got to 3000 and 4000 runs in the same number of innings as Dravid.

Pujara says

This innings among my top-5 

It is one of my top innings in Test cricket, I could say top-five. The way the teammates appreciated it, they were saying it was one of the best.

Our top-order could have batted better 

To be honest, we should have batted better but they also bowled well in the first two sessions and I knew that I had to stay patient and wait for the loose balls. I felt our top-order should have batted better, but they will learn from the mistakes and put up a better show in the second innings

Terrific innings from Pujara or “Steve” as the Yorkshire men called him as they couldn't pronounce his first name Cheteshwar! Congrats on a great 100. —Shane Warne 

Pujara batted a lot of time. He's someone who likes to absorb pressure and bat a long time, and credit to him he scored a fantastic hundred today.—Mitchell Starc

Pujara was like a sage on this first day. Focussed, determined and gritty. A knock to remember. —Virender Sehwag 

Scoreboard

India 1st innings

KL Rahul c Finch b Hazlewood 2

M Vijay c Paine b Starc 11

C Pujara run out 123

V Kohli c Khawaja b Cummins 3

A Rahane c Handscomb b Hazlewood 13

R Sharma c Harris b Lyon 37

R Pant c Paine b Lyon 25

R Ashwin c Handscomb b Cummins 25

I Sharma b Starc 4

M Shami not out 6

J Bumrah not out 0  

Extras: (LB 1) 1

Total: (9 wickets, 87.5 overs) 250

FOW: 1-3, 2-15, 3-19, 4-41, 5-86, 6-127, 7-189, 8-210, 9-250

Bowling

Mitchell Starc 19-4-63-2

Josh Hazlewood 19.5-3-52-2

Pat Cummins 19-3-49-2

Nathan Lyon 28-2-83-2

Travis Head 2-1-2-0