Five Positives for team India from the 500th Test Match

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara is back and how!

Pujara scored two half-centuries in the match (Image Courtesy: BCCI Official)

Pujara has been under a lot of pressure in the past few months. Getting starts but not being able to kick-on from there, can be very frustrating for a batsman who prides himself on being able to play the long innings.

He struggled in the West Indies tour with the bat, as he failed to make good use of the starts he got. He rightly decided to get back to the domestic circuit on his return from the tour, and scored a lot of runs in the Duleep Trophy matches, which has done wonders to his confidence.

He went on to make two half-centuries in the match (62 & 78). The most notable thing about his innings was that he had regained his positive intent. He did not just try to block the ball and hang in there, but instead made sure the bad balls were put to the boundaries and concentrated on rotating the strike well.

He looked comfortable at the crease and will have been slightly disappointed on not reaching the three-figure mark in either innings.

But, surely, Pujara is back!