India vs New Zealand: First Test - Hits and Misses

Cheteshwar Pujara: 140 runs

Cheteshwar Pujara

Along with Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara was also a star of the show in India’s 197-run win. The Saurashtra batsman was in and out of the Indian Test team in the last one year and was dropped in the series against West Indies. Prior to this Test, Pujara had a sensational Duleep Trophy as he scored a 150 and a 250 in the two matches he played.

He carried on the form into the Test series against New Zealand and scored heavily, which laid the platform for the batsmen who followed him to put on a good total on the board. Pujara was often criticised for the pace at which he bats in Test cricket, but in the first test against New Zealand, Pujara came in all guns blazing as he scored runs at a faster rate.

Just like Murali Vijay, Pujara was unlucky not to have converted his fifties into hundreds as he got out for 62 and 78 in the match. The team management will want Pujara to continue his batting form throughout the season as India are scheduled to play 12 more tests at home in the coming months.