It was a competitive day of Test cricket as India closed in on Australia’s first innings total, but the visitors picked up enough wickets to end day three at Ranchi on equal terms.
Cheteshwar Pujara was definitely the star of the day for India, notching up his 11th Test ton and found able support from Murali Vijay who scored 82. The duo put on a 102-run partnership for the second wicket.
For Australia, pacer Pat Cummins has taken four wickets on his return to Test cricket with his pace and bounceย troubling the Indian batsmen so far.
India ended the day on 360/6, still 91 runs away from Australia’s first innings total.
As expected, there was praise on Twitter for Pujara and Cummins for their outstandings efforts with bat and ball respectively.
Former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming tweeted that Pujara reminds him of former Indian batsman VVS Laxman.
On the other hand, former England captain Michael Vaughan worries for his former team’s chances in the Ashes later this year if Cummins and Pattinson are fit for the series.
Here, we collect the top tweets of the day.
I like the way the ๐ฆ๐บ have used the short ball to all the ๐ฎ๐ณ batsman
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 18, 2017
Well played Pujara ๐๐ผ Hopefully not to many more runs left in him but great fight so far
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) March 18, 2017
Quality ๐ฏ from Pujara ๐ฅ
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) March 18, 2017
Has a lot of time
reminds of @VVSLaxman281
Difficult to make him go hard at ball on slower pitch#Class #Indvaus
Given his long absence this bowling display in these conditions is as good as it gets. @patcummins30 #IndvAus
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) March 18, 2017
If @patcummins30 can stay Fit...and @_jamespattinson...added to Starc,Hazlewood & Bird...I fear for England this winter ... #INDvAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 18, 2017
What we saw out there, was Pujara meditating with the bat. ๐๐๐#IndvAus
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 18, 2017
Pujara's class keeps India alive on a day when Australia showed their class with the ball. Was a drip-drip day but they managed it well
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 18, 2017
Cheteshwar Pujara averages 219.00 in Test matches involving Glenn Maxwell.
— Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) March 18, 2017
One day, when Kohli and Smith put on a partnership of 300 for Earth against Mars, everyone on Twitter will be happy. #INDvAUS #EARvMAR
— Paul Dennett (@the_summer_game) March 18, 2017
Cheteshwar Pujara..
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 18, 2017
11th Test 100
2nd v Aus
9th at home
10th in Asia
10th at #3
1st in 2017
4th this Test season
7th this fc season#IndvAus
It's been such a great return to test cricket for Pat Cummins. Looking forward to his next test performance in 2022. #IndvAus
— Cat Jones (@Cricketbatcat) March 18, 2017
