Murali Vijay ideal partner during Mohali test, says Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara rates his knock of 77 runs against South Africa as one of his top satisfying knocks

Indian Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has said that his solid partnership with opener Murali Vijay was crucial for India’s victory at the Mohali Test. He felt that both of them batted positively and did not get into a shell, as others tried blocking their way out of trouble but failed.

Talking about his 63-run and 86-run with Vijay in two innings, Pujara said to IANS: "We were communicating very well on how the bowlers were bowling and what line they were likely to bowl. Most importantly, I thought we both defended well and looked solid at the crease."

In the match Pujara and Vijay together scored 230 runs, while the other 36 knocks managed only 416. The 27-year old feels that they succeeded because they were communicating well enough to string together a partnership.

"The wicket was challenging but it wasn't that bad if you applied yourself as a batsman. Once you were set, the bowlers were struggling to get wickets. It was all about making a partnership."

"That's what Vijay and I spoke about when I went in to bat (in the second innings). It helped that we had a partnership in the first innings as well. If two batsmen were set and solid, it was not easy for the bowlers to get wickets," he said.

The Saurashtra cricketer explained that ultimately it was about putting on a decent total which they could defend. Their partnership set everything up ideally.

"As a fielding unit they (South Africa) had to think really hard as to how to get us out. Once we were in, we were rotating the strike, punishing the loose balls and were solid in defence. All the things went perfectly for us."

The middle-order batsman also said his gritty knock of 77 runs against South Africa in the second innings of the first Test is one of his top satisfying knocks.

"This one is up there. The conditions were difficult and the team needed a good total. We have played cricket on some challenging wickets and this was one of those. It was an innings of 77 but it was crucial in the context of the match," he said.

He explained that he had decided to play positively with proper cricketing shots. "That was my plan (to play positively). Every time I got a loose ball, I wanted to make sure I got a boundary. If not a boundary, I at least tried to rotate the strike. Once I was set, I had my rhythm and I knew I could play shots on this wicket," he added.

India won the match by 108 runs to lead the four-Test series 1-0.