In-form Murali Vijay and stand-in opener Cheteshwar Pujara provided a solid start as India reached 59 for no loss at lunch on the second day of the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia here today.
Pujara, who has been promoted up the order in place of an injured Shikhar Dhawan, hit three boundaries to kick-start the innings while Vijay also managed to hang around despite playing a few edgy strokes after Australia ended their first innings on 262.
At the break, Pujara was batting on 28 while Vijay remained undefeated on 23 with four boundaries.
Pujara played a majestic backfoot cover drive off pacer James Pattinson after Vijay opened his account with a streaky boundary past the slip cordon.
Pattinson drifted one onto Pujara's pads and the batsman promptly got his second boundary. Then came the best shot of the morning session as Pujara hit left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson for a straight drive.
The three boundaries gave Pujara confidence to get off the blocks. Vijay also joined forces as he elegantly played Pattinson through the wide mid-on area.
The first five overs produced 34 runs and it looked as if Vijay and Pujara are in a mood to get 'ready' for the Indian Premier League which is scheduled to start in 10 days time. The 50-run partnership was completed in the 10th over.
The Kotla track, which has already come under much criticism, is slowly turning from bad to worse as a number of deliveries bowled by Johnson from the Old Club House end started keeping low.
If it created a bit of problem for batsmen, the low bounce meant that the edges did not carry to the gloves-man Matthew Wade and the fielders stationed in the slip cordon.
