Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara added a 153-run stand for the third wicket that allowed India to finish the third day in a strong position. India are 270/3 at the moment with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. India lead by 171 and would look to stretch it close to 300 on day 4. They have a fair bit of batting to come with Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur in the shade.
Meanwhile, after the third day’s play, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara spoke to BCCI.TV about their partnership. It was Rohit maiden overseas Test ton and Pujara adding yet another fifty to his tally, his sixth vs England. At times in the partnership, Pujara outscored Rohit and played some exquisite shots.
Talking during the interview, Rohit said that as an opener he knew his job which was to score runs for his team and he did exactly that. He further said that he was not thinking about personal milestones during that innings.
This Was My Last Opportunity: Rohit Sharma
The Oval Diaries with Rohit & Pujara š
Of role reversals, patience, putting up a century stand & scoring a maiden Test ton overseas – @ImRo45 chats up with @cheteshwar1š š – by @RajalArora
Full interview š„ š #TeamIndia #ENGvIND https://t.co/uchiiJPyD7 pic.twitter.com/1zuuznpOVl
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 5, 2021
“I had batted in the middle-order before and things didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to, but I knew this [opportunity to open] was going to be my last opportunity to try whatever the management was thinking and whatever I wanted to try. When you’re playing a sport, you always have to take those chances, take those risks,” Rohit said, after perhaps one of his best days as a Test cricketer.
Pujara, on his part, said that he scored quickly due to the conditions and the pitch flattening out. He also thanked Rohit for egging him on during that knock.
“The way I was batting today… I feel that the rhythm that was missing is coming back. I am trying to concentrate better, and even the footwork is much better,” Pujara later said in an interview with the broadcasters.
India lost both Rohit and Pujara in the very first over after England took the new ball. Ollie Robinson struck twice in the same over to send both the well-set batsmen.
Also Read: ENG vs IND 2021: VVS Laxman Predicts The Winner Of The Oval Test
