525 balls. 668 minutes. 202 runs.
Cheteshwar Pujara played an innings for the ages in Ranchi. In the company of Wriddhiman Saha, Pujara blunted Australia’s bowling attack as the duo went two full sessions without their partnership being broken. In the course of his marathon innings, Pujara became the first Indian cricket to face 500 balls in a single Test innings, going past a record held by Rahul Dravid when he faced 495 balls against Pakistan in 2004.
The innings was a study in concentration, discipline and patience and rightly so, Pujara was lauded on Twitter. (Of course, there was no dearth of humour, as is always the case).
I think Cheteshwar Pujara is planning to bat till Modi gets re-elected as PM.
What say, @abdullah_omar.— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) March 19, 2017
This, however, did not come true.
It’s year 2029,
Kohli and Anushka are married.Rahane have two kids.Ishant is playing IPLAnd Cheteshwar Pujara is still Batting.#IndvAus— JagdisH Asodariya (@jagdisHpatelJP) March 19, 2017
What a knock, Che Pu!