Cheteshwar Pujara: Second quickest Indian to 1000 runs

Pujara thus became the joint-quickest among Indians to reach the landmark in terms of Tests Sunil Gavaskar also took 11 Tests to get there and second-quickest in terms of innings,behind Vinod Kambli,who got there in 14 innings.

Soon,Pujara reached his second double century,with a skip down the wicket and a deft flick for four off off-spinner Glenn Maxwell. Kambli too had scored two doubles early on in just his third and fourth Tests. But the Mumbai left-handers spiralling descent was as spectacular as his steepling rise.

After just 11 innings,Kambli had four hundreds,three half-centuries and an average of 93.70. But his next 10 innings brought him just 147 runs,and he never played Test cricket again.

In style and temperament,Pujara cannot be more different from the exuberant Kambli. But on a day when his old mates name was cropping up repeatedly,it was fitting that Sachin Tendulkar was at the other end when Pujara breached the 200 mark. He would have appreciated being there,having waited 109.4 overs since the fall of Indias first wicket.

In making Tendulkar experience his longest-ever wait with pads on,Pujara and Murali Vijay had also set a new Indian record for the second wicket,their 370-run association eclipsing the unbroken 344 between Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar in 1978-79. Pujara later said he didnt know that he had helped set this new record. I am not really aware of it. I am happy to have achieved whatever I have so far for the country and I am proud to represent India. I like scoring hundreds whether it is for country or for a club team, he said.

Between the doubles

Asked to compare this innings to his first double hundred,Pujara didnt rate one as better than the other,but said that conditions here were tougher to bat on than at Ahmedabad,where he had made his 206* against England. Both knocks are important. You dont need to compare the two as they were different teams and situations, he said. That wicket (Motera) was slightly easier to bat on. This wicket was initially difficult to bat on and then there was also a bit of turn.

The difficulty of his knock was compounded by a hamstring pull,which had caused Pujara to limp a little while running between wickets in the early part of his innings. In the first session yesterday,it was difficult even to run and think about my batting. My hamstring was sore. I just wanted to hang around and let the time go, he said. Afterwards,I was much better and concentrated on my batting. The injury is settling down and I am feeling much better now.