- Nasima Akter
Pat Cummins Gifts Signed Team Jersey to Pujara
India registered a victory in the 2nd Test against Australia. The game also marked Cheteshwar Pujara's 100th Test match, and to commemorate it, Australian captain Patrick Cummins gifted the player with a signed Test jersey of the Australian team.
The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) shared a photo of Cummins presenting the shirt to Pujara on Sunday. The post had the caption "Spirit of Cricket" and featured the players posing with the signed jersey.
Aside from sharing a photo of the two players, the BCCI shared a special feature where Pujara's teammates shared messages congratulating the batter on his milestone.
Pujara's Test Achievements
Pujara made a stunning Test career with 7052 runs with a decent average of 44.08. Included in this record are 19 hundred and 34 fifties. During his Test career, Pujara became known for his ability to bat for long periods and tire out the opposition bowlers.
Pujara made his Test debut in Bangalore in October 2010. He made his first double hundred against England at Ahmedabad in November 2012. Then in February 2017, Pujara set a new record for the most runs by a batsman in an Indian first-class season, with 1,605 runs. By 2021, the player became known as one of the best Test batters.
Pujara During the Test Match
On the last day of the 2nd Test match, Pujara did not have the strongest start in the first innings. At lunch, India's score read 14/1, with skipper Rohit Sharma (12*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (1*) at the crease. While Pujara did not have a strong start, he was a key player in the second innings.
With a score of 31 runs from 74 balls, Pujara helped guide India to their 6-wicket victory.
Following the match, the batsman shared a post that read, "One for the books! Thank you so much for the warm wishes and support. Indeed, a sweet victory."
Other Featured Players on 3rd Day of the 2nd Test
Aside from an unbeaten run score from Pujara, Srikar Bharat secured the team's victory in the end with 23 runs from 22 balls. Earlier in the match, India struggled to chase a target of 115. Shreyas Iyer (12 from 10) and Srikar Bharat (23* from 22) helped India overhaul the target in 26.4 overs.
Another achievement that happened at the match was when Virat Kohli came out to bat at the crease with Cheteshwar Pujara. During the game, Kohli became the fastest batter to score 25,000 international runs.
What's Next for Team India and Australia?
India and Australia's next Text match for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be on March 1 to 5. Following the final Test on March 9-13, India and Australia will face each other again for an ODI series starting on March 22.
With India leading 2-0, it is unlikely that Australia will win this Test series unless the teams end in a draw. However, it is assumed that the Aussies have qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC 2021-23) final. If they show a good performance in the upcoming matches, they will still have a chance.
