'Typical innings where he soaked all the pressure' - Wasim Jaffer lauds Cheteshwar Pujara after impressive knock in Chattogram Test

After all the talk around Cheteshwar Pujara being named as the vice-captain of the Test side ahead of Rishabh Pant, the former has now answered the critics with a gritty display in Chattogram against Bangladesh. The right-hander had to keep a steady head after openers Shubman Gill and KL Rahul alongside Virat Kohli had been dismissed early. Pujara rose to the occasion to show how crucial he still is to the side at number three. 

The 34-year-old played a defiant innings of 90 off 203 balls with 11 fours and formed a partnership of 149 runs with Shreyas Iyer for the fifth wicket to revive the Indian innings. He was finally beaten through his defences by Taijul Islam as his excellent innings came to an end. Meanwhile, former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer opined his views on the knock.  

Pujara will be feeling unlucky to miss out on a very good hundred: Wasim Jaffer 

Wasim Jaffer felt that Pujara played to his strengths and soaked up the pressure to help the side from a possible collapse. He further noted how Pujara would be living with himself on missing the hundred and hailed him for making an impact straightaway despite playing just one format.  

“He is somebody you know what kind of job he is going to do and it was the standard Cheteshwar Pujara. Wicket were falling from the other end and he (Pujara) was soaking all the pressure up. Taking his time and anything loose, he was scoring runs on it. He will be unfortunate and will be feeling unlucky to miss out on a very good hundred,” Jaffer told ESPNcricinfo in a video after day one's play.  

“On top of that, Test cricket has not been played regularly and he’s (Pujara) been in and out. He’s played County Cricket and little bit for Saurashtra. But coming in straightaway and getting into his groove is what Cheteshwar Pujara is all about and I’m happy for him. He did all the hard yards, took his time early on, played the spinners really well and when he got the opportunity to score, he never missed out,” he added.