The third Test at Headingley has been a game of two halves for India this far. After being on the receiving end for the first two days, it was Virat Kohli and his men’s turn to call the shots on Day 3 even though they are still far behind in the match.
Opener Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara led the fightback with a resilient 82-run partnership for the second wicket. Pujara then joined hands with captain Virat Kohli to further whittle down the 357-run lead to 139 with a 99-run unbeaten stand for the third wicket.
India were 215 for 2 when bad light brought an early end to the day with Pujara — closing in on his first Test hundred since 2019 — batting on 91 and giving him company was Kohli, who shrugged off a shaky start to reach 45.
The situation was nothing less than walking inside a last chance saloon for Pujara when he came out to bat at the fall of KL Rahul’s (8) wicket. The 33-year-old has been under the pump for a while and many regarded this as his last opportunity to keep his place in the side.
Pujara’s average from last 21 Tests read 26 and his timely innings on Friday will settle the debate for some time to come. The Saurashtra batsman, who has kept himself insulated from the modern demands of the game, presented a completely different avatar as he upped the ante under extreme pressure.
He broke the shackles with attacking strokeplay much to the dismay of the opposition. It was an uncharacteristic Pujara knock as he struck 15 boundaries, which included a ramp shot against Ollie Robinson that sailed over the slip cordon for four.
Pujara was helped by some wayward bowling initially and he flicked and punched the ball from the backfoot with authority. He even outpaced his partner Rohit, who once again looked solid against the new ball.
This was Pujara’s 30th Test fifty and it came in 94 deliveries.
With a big first-innings lead as a cushion, England bowlers were expected to run amok. But Rohit calmed the nerves in the dressing room with his sedate approach to reach his fifth half-century of the year.
Rohit was lucky to survive a close leg-before shout when on 39. England captain Joe Root did not review the decision in time. Rohit’s 59 came off 156 deliveries and had seven fours and a six off Robinson before he was trapped leg-before by the same bowler.
Opening the batting in England is seen as running a fool’s errand but Rohit with a tightened technique and an improved temperament has embraced the role charmingly.
The 34-year-old had averaged 27.58 playing outside the friendly confines of home while batting in the middle order. The turning point in his career came in Australia not before there was drama concerning his availability for the challenging tour.
The elegant Mumbai batsman now averages over 57 from the 25 times that he has opened the batting.