India vs England | It is by far the best knock by Cheteshwar Pujara, says Virat Kohli

In the first innings, Indian batsmen were totally unsuccessful to stand and mount a score in order to gain a lead. However, Cheteshwar Pujara came in to bat and changed the picture for team India. Even though other batsmen failed, Pujara stood strong and occupied the crease with the support of the tail ending batsmen and managed to score a century and get past the English score to gain a small lead. He was calm and composed throughout his innings and Virat Kohli described Pujara’s knock of 132 runs as the best ever innings by the Test specialist.

“It is by far your best knock that I have seen, I thought Colombo was your top knock but this has to be at the top of the table," Kohli said during an interview with Pujara on BCCI.tv.

Pujara added 32 runs with Ishant Sharma (14) and shared 46 runs with Jasprit Bumrah (6) to take India to 273 in the first innings. Kohli also spoke largely of the tail-enders who did their best to support Pujara and the team to raise the score and gain a decent lead of 27 runs. 

“When we were batting we thought we can take 100 plus lead easily but then the team collapsed and then you showed great determination and the tailenders were outstanding," he said. 

Pujara also singled out the tailenders for praise.

“When I was batting with the tailenders, initially I thought I might be 80-85 not out and we will get bowled out. But the way Ishant (Sharma) and (Jasprit) Bumrah batted, I was really pleased. I don’t think we have seen many tailenders do that in the past, so I think we can rely on our tailenders. So it was pleasing to see the determination from the players,” Pujara said. 

“Last Test did help me, the amount of time that I spent on crease gave me lot of confidence, and the preparation that I was doing, I could trust that and implement again in this Test match,” he said. 

Pujara also mentioned that he believed that his partnership with Kohli could have made a good difference and they could have increased the lead to 150 runs and above but unfortunately Kohli got out and the rest of the batsmen couldn't play up to the mark.

“But when we (Pujara and Kohli) were batting together, I thought we will give a 150-run lead but unfortunately you (Kohli) got out and rest of the batsmen could have batted well but that is something we will do in second innings,” he said 

Kohli agreed to what Pujara said and assured him that he won't be disappointed in the next match.

“I won't disappoint you (Pujara) in the second innings, we will make that partnership into a big one," he said.