It was all too familiar story for India on the 2nd test in Nagpur, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay like they have done throughout this mega home season were once again grinding the opposition bowlers into the dirt during the first session through their trademark attritional batting.
The runs were coming at a trickle but there is always a sense of calmness about these two batting together, from the outside one can almost feel the inevitability of these two stitching a partnership once the first few overs are negotiated. Both these batsmen have an innate ability to thwart the bowlers for hours, if India is going to have any success overseas, Vijay and Pujara will have to become the pillars of the batting unit in tough conditions as they are at home.
Vijay picked up his rate of scoring soon after completing a half-century and ended up scoring a brilliant 128, while Pujara possessing monk like powers of concentration eventually got to his hundred later in the day while remaining untroubled at the crease for his hardworking 121 and still going strong.
Sri-lanka were hopeless throughout the day and soon ran out of ideas after the arrival of the skipper Virat Kohli who started to flex his batting muscles right from the start of his innings scoring at a very brisk pace providing momentum to the otherwise slow Indian innings. He along with Pujara will resume their innings tomorrow with Indian scorecard reading a very healthy 312/2, with India leading by 107 runs.
Twitter congratulated both Vijay and Pujara for their superb centuries, here are all the reactions throughout the day”s play
2 Mins Of Silence For Haters Who Once Said Ashwin, Sir Ravindra Jadeja And Murali Vijay Are In Team Only Because Of #Dhoni's #CSK Favoritism.
They All Have Proved Their Talent Which MS Dhoni Saw Before Anyone Else Could. 🙏🇮🇳#INDvSL #INDvsSL #MuraliVijay #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/UU679OM5OE
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) November 25, 2017
When pujara comes to bat
When he out#INDvSL #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/JfGVhz9NZY— भाई साहब (@Bhai_saheb) November 25, 2017
Most Test 100s as Indian openers
33 – Sunil Gavaskar
22 – Virender Sehwag
10 – M Vijay
9 – Gautam Gambhir
8 – Navjot Sidhu#IndvSL— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 25, 2017
One of those rare days when you get to watch all three of them bat in a Test – Virat Kohli, Steve Smith & Joe Root. #Ashes #INDvSL
— Chinmay Jawalekar (@CricfreakTweets) November 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/KP24/status/934366501544460289
Vijay was out of action for 8 months. Had a wrist surgery in between. You wouldn’t notice all that while watching Vijay bat today. Fish to water. #IndvSL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/934399461132001281
A sign of a great player is when you don't even realize he's in and settled. Virat Kohli is often that, already got to his fifty. Flowing knock. #INDvSL
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 25, 2017
Kohli's energy, and that easily scored 50, has propelled India to the target the team would have had in mind. Lead of 100 by close.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 25, 2017
Never score a hundred just before Virat Kohli comes in to bat. The crowd will cheer your dismissal.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) November 25, 2017
Cheteshwar ‘Dependable’ Pujara. Appetite for runs is insatiable. Half an hour away from batting on all 8 days of this series. #IndvSL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 25, 2017
Sehwag scoring hundred in a session is fast food. Quick, useful, tasty.
Pujara taking an entire day for a hundred is slow cooked Biriyani. Timeless and eternally delectable.
— cricBC (@cricBC) November 25, 2017
Murali Vijay – smooth as silk
Superb comeback! He has to open with Rahul in South Africa #INDvSL
— Narbavi (@Narbavi) November 25, 2017
On his Comeback to the National Side after a break, @mvj888 lets his bat do the talking. Fantastic 💯. Couldn't have asked for a better preparation before the tour of SA #INDvSL
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) November 25, 2017
2 Mins Of Silence For Haters Who Once Said Ashwin, Sir Ravindra Jadeja And Murali Vijay Are In Team Only Because Of #Dhoni's #CSK Favoritism.
They All Have Proved Their Talent Which MS Dhoni Saw Before Anyone Else Could. 🙏🇮🇳#INDvSL #INDvsSL #MuraliVijay #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/UU679OM5OE
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) November 25, 2017
When pujara comes to bat
When he out#INDvSL #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/JfGVhz9NZY— भाई साहब (@Bhai_saheb) November 25, 2017
A fan spotted speaking to Cheteshwar Pujara #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/QTqIZwIjlS
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) November 25, 2017
.@mvj888 celebrates as he brings up his 10th Test ton. This is his first against Sri Lanka #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/fBqe3TqaCA
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2017
Pujara comes out to bat with 4.1 overs to go. Again no night watchman for India. Like this trend. Sends a clear message to opposition about the stuff your team’s made of.👏👏👏
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 24, 2017
14th Test 100 for @cheteshwar1 and 4th vs Sri Lanka #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/OSglC0nRVd
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/KrithikaChauhan/status/934369155616296960
https://twitter.com/KrithikaChauhan/status/934336462027358208
Today:
Test Century for Smith
Test Century for Vijay
Test Century for Pujara
Test fifty for Marsh
Test fifty for Kohli— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) November 25, 2017
Rahul Dravid – The Wall
So Murali Vijay and Pujara are the Asian Paints painting that wall😍😍🏏🏏
Pure test match class #IndvSL #IndvsSL
— Follow panriya da body soda (@adyararun01) November 25, 2017
