Ton-up Pujara stands tall, keeps India on track

Adelaide: Cheteshwar Pujara rose to the occasion with a maiden century in Australia, pulling India out of a deep hole to a respectable 250 for nine on day one of the first Test here on Thursday.

Pujara showed the same grit and gumption that is typical of him en route a 246-ball 123 that kept India in the game after being reduced to 127 for six in the 50th over. It took a brilliant direct from Pat Cummins to remove him on what happened to be the final ball of an absorbing day one of the four-Test series.

Skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat in ideal conditions but the top-order once again failed to apply themselves against the potent pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Cummins.

Anything close to 250 looked a mountain to climb with India reeling at 56 for four at lunch. But Pujara stood tall amid the ruins to save India from embarrassment on way to his 16th Test ton. His fighting effort comprised seven fours and two sixes.

The 30-year-old put on two crucial partnerships with the lower-order batsmen to ensure India give their bowlers something to bowl at. Post tea, Pujara added 62 runs with R Ashwin (25) for the seventh wicket.

The latter played watchfully, unlike the Indian top-order, and played a great role in this minor recovery. Cummins (2-49) finally got the breakthrough in the 74th over when Ashwin edged to second slip.

Ishant Sharma (4) then put on 21 runs with Pujara, pushing the score past 200 in the 79th over. Ishant survived a loud lbw shout via DRS, but Mitchell Starc (2-63) bowled him with a fuller delivery thereafter. As he started to run out of partners, Pujara hit a few lusty blows to gather some quick runs.

Earlier, Pujara's effort was the sole silver lining after India were reduced to 143-6 at tea. This was after a horrendous shot selection by Rohit Sharma (37) left India in the lurch at 86 for five in the 38th over.

Post lunch, Rohit and Pujara started off well as they added 45 runs for the fifth wicket. While Pujara was sedate at one end, the former took the lead in scoring as he hit sixes at will.

Two came off Cummins; the first a pull shot that sailed for six and the other a proper cover drive that cleared the ropes as well. It seemed that Rohit was intent on digging India out of this hole as he hit Nathan Lyon (2-83) for a six on the second ball of the 38th over.

Marcus Harris almost caught it, with the ball barely crossing over the ropes and the umpire took some time to call it a six.