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India v/s England: Lead of 75-100 would be great on this surface: Cheteshwar Pujara

The 28-year-old showed tremendous patience to tackle a disciplined English attack till tea to steady the rocking Indian boat

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England’s Chris Woakes takes a diving catch to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara
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Cheteshwar Pujara was on course for his fourth successive Test century when he started a mini collapse that saw India lose three wickets for just eight runs on Sunday.

This was a certain cause for celebrations for the touring England side to see in-form Pujara walking back after hitting a shot that he rarely plays, but not before completing a half-century for the sixth Test in a row. The 28-year-old showed tremendous patience to tackle a disciplined English attack till tea to steady the rocking Indian boat.

But a surprising long-hop off the second ball after tea from Adil Rashid abruptly cut short his innings at 51. However, Pujara felt that India are in an advantageous position with the two all-rounders – Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja – looking in complete control.

"The first session will be very crucial for us tomorrow (Monday). Our gameplan would be simple as a lead of 75 to 100 would be great on this surface," said Pujara after the day's play, adding: "Our lower order has been contributing in all the Test matches. We have seen Jayant Yadav batting well too."

On his own shot selection after taking India out of danger along with Kohli, Pujara blamed it on the negative line bowled by England bowlers. "I think we did not struggle but the lines that they (England) were bowling were a little negative. But I still feel the way we batted, we showed character. We were leaving the balls outside the off stump and we built a partnership, which was crucial for the team.

"I was disappointed with the way I got out today. It was a ball probably I could have hit for four. But the timing was a bit wrong," he said.

However, Pujara did praise leg-spinner Adil Rashid for sticking to his task. "Adil has been bowling well but Indian batsmen are known to play spinners well and we have been tackling him well," he added.

On the fitness of Ashwin, who was seen limping towards the end of play, Pujara said that it might be just a niggle he picked up while batting. "I didn't speak to Ashwin after he came out. But when he was bowling, there wasn't anything wrong. Probably, he might have got some niggles when he was batting," came the answer.

Pujara came to the defence of his struggling partner Ajinkya Rahane, who has made just 63 runs from five innings in the series so far. "I don't think that there's any worry for the team. The way he has batted oversees and at home in the past, it's a matter of one good innings. Once he starts scoring runs, he'll be back in business. He's an important player for the team," Pujara said.

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