England vs India: Cheteshwar Pujara hits gritty 2nd innings fifty in 5th Test to repay selectors’ faith

India tour of England: Cheteshwar Pujara remained unbeaten on 50 as he led India's charge in the second innings of the rescheduled fifth Test in Birmingham on Sunday, July 3.

Cheteshwar Pujara repaid the faith that the selectors showed in him by hitting a gritty and crucial 2nd innings fifty on Day 3 of the rescheduled 5th Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Pujara remained unbeaten on 50 and stitched an unbeaten 50-run stand with Rishabh Pant for the 4th-wicket partnership as India finished with a 257-run lead.

Cheteshwar Pujara got to his fifty in 139 balls, bringing back memories of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from 2020-21 as he formed a fine partnership with Rishabh Pant, who curbed his attacking instincts and played the situation, remaining unbeaten on 30 from 46 balls to follow his dashing first-innings 146 (111 balls).

England vs India, 5th Test Day 3: Report | Highlights

Pujara took blows on the body and handled some uneven bounce in his typical style as he frustrated the England attack with his sturdy batting in the final session on Sunday, June 3.

Notably, Pujara has hit 3 fifty-plus scores in the ongoing 5-match Pataudi Trophy and all of them have come in the 2nd innings for India.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who opened the innings in the rescheduled 5th Test in the absence of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, lost his opening partner KL Rahul in the very first over to James Anderson. However, he survived a probing spell with the new ball from Anderson, Stuart Broad and Matty Potts and stitched a 39-run partnership with Hanuma Vihari, who took his No. 3 spot in the XI.

Pujara joined hands with Kohli after Stuart Broad took out Vihari and stitched a 32-run stand but Ben Stokes got former India captain out with an unplayable delivery.