Southampton: India skipper Virat Kohli Saturday described Cheteshwar Pujara’s unbeaten century against England in the first innings of the ongoing fourth Test as the Saurashtra batsman’s best innings that deserves to be at the top.
“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,” said Kohli during an interview with Pujara in BCCI.TV.
Drawing a comparison with his Test hundred in 2016 in Colombo, Pujara hoped this innings turns out to be series defining.
“Colombo was challenging but the situation here was even more challenging and the series which is quite balanced now, with that innings we are at commanding position and if we can bowl well today, we can get them out cheaply and win the Test match, so it could be a series defining knock,” he said.
Kohli also praised the tail-enders, who showed determination to help India take a slender 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,” he said.
“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,” he added.
