Cheteshwar Pujara slams ton, bats Bangladesh out of the match

Cheteshwar Pujara in action [Source: AP]

In a significant turn of events, veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has ended his long-standing century drought in style during India's second innings of the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram. 

Coming at number three, the talismanic Indian batter played a gorgeous unbeaten knock of 102 runs, helping the visitors set a mammoth 513-run target for the hosts. This is Pujara's first Test century after almost four years and 51 innings. Furthermore, he completed his ton in 130 balls, recording his quickest-ever century in the purest format. 

Pujara was having a horrendous run in Test cricket prior to this series, managing 681 runs at a mediocre average of 25.22 since India's triumphant BGT campaign Down Under in 2020-21. People had started questioning his place in the team considering his age and current form. He was down and out. Despite getting starts, he wasn't converting them into daddy hundreds. 

But as they say, comebacks are bigger than setbacks, the batting maestro has silenced his critics with two consecutive impressive outings on a challenging surface in this match. While he fell short of his hundred by ten runs in the first innings, he accomplished it in a grand style in the second with his trademark flick through the midwicket.  

Meanwhile, chasing 513, Bangladesh are 20 for no loss as of writing the report. 

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