Cricketers of the week: 5th March - 11th March

#4 Cheteshwar Pujara (India)

Pujara’s grit made all the difference for India in their second innings.

India were facing a deficit of 87 after both teams completed their first innings in the second Test at Bengaluru. In the second innings, India were still trailing on a tough track at 39 for 1 when Pujara walked in. The hosts were then in a spot of bother against 120 for 4 when Australia snaffled the prized wicket of Kohli and sent Jadeja packing soon after.

Pujara added 118 for the fifth wicket with Ajinkya Rahane, the first century-partnership of the series. In the process, the two batsmen played out the first wicket-less session of the series as well. Eventually, Pujara scored 92 in 221 balls, the highest individual innings of the match.

Those runs were gold dust as India managed to set a competitive target against Australia despite the new ball storm that saw them collapse from 238 for 4 to 274 all out.