England concluded their first innings at a mammoth 578 in the first Test in Chennai. In response, India’s top-order crumbled, with the hosts ending day three at 257-6.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant’s counter-attacking 119-run partnership had shone a glimmer of hope for the Indians.
However, as luck would have it, Pujara’s pull shot to a poor delivery ricocheted off the short-leg fielder’s shoulder straight to mid-wicket. Pant departed soon after, for a well-made 91.
Talking in a press conference following the day’s play, Cheteshwar Pujara said the Chepauk pitch is still good to bat on, and added that the first session on Monday will be the “most crucial”.
The batting mainstay rued the soft-dismissals but exuded confidence on the lower-order.
All-rounders Ashwin and Sundar will start their vigil on Monday at 8 and 33 runs respectively.
They face a herculean task to counter the new ball against the likes of James Anderson and Jofra Archer.
Cheteshwar Pujara praises Dom Bess
Young Dom Bess was the star performer for the visitors on day three. The off-spinner sent the whole of India’s middle-order - Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rahane and Pant - back to the pavilion.
When asked to compare Bess with Ravichandran Ashwin, Pujara was non-committal, but praised the English tweaker for his performance.
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