India looks to wrap up Delhi Test against Australia in Pujara’s 100th match

Delhi has been fully prepared to host its first Test after more than five years. In the four-match Test series, India outplayed Australia and registered an important victory in the opening Test in Nagpur in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

The upcoming second Test is scheduled to be held in Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium from February 17 to 21.

The Test will be special for veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara, because this will be his 100^th match for India. This is an achievement for this shy cricketer, who has had a distinguished career in the longest format of the game.

During his 13-year illustrious career, he delivered several memorable knocks for India and helped the country win matches on foreign soil.

“I never imagined I’d play a hundred Test matches when I made my Test debut.””The career of a player is replete with ups and downs, and you have to fight through those periods,” Pujara said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday.

It is a coincidence that Pujara played his opening Test against Australia in 2010, and his 100^th match will be against the same opponent. He played numerous heroic innings against Australia, especially in their backyard.

The veteran batter is set to become the 13^th India player to play his 100^th match in red ball cricket. Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar is the only cricketer to have played 200 Test matches in five-day cricket.

India has to win the second Test in Delhi, starting on Friday, to maintain its lead in the Test rankings and to come closer to reaching the final for the second consecutive time in the World Test Championship to be played in England in June, this year. India needs to win the ongoing series 3-1 or 3-0.