Kolkata: Cheteshwar Pujara is fighting a lone battle as India finds them in a difficult situation (74/5) on a rain curtailed second day of the first test match here at the Eden Gardens. Pujara is just three short from registering his 16th half century in test cricket. Only 21 overs were bowled on the second day before the umpires called off the play at the stroke of tea break.
Only105 minutes of play were possible on the second day in the morning session before the skies opened up. The umpires were forced to call for an early lunch.
India started Day 2 with the score on 17/3 after 11.5 overs. The two overnight batsmen Cheteswar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane failed to get going. Rahane (4 off 21 balls) was the first batsman to be dismissed as he edged a delivery from Shanaka to Dickwella behind the stumps.
The Lankan fast bowler accounted for Ravichandran Ashwin a little later as the off spinner was guilty of a naive drive. Ashwin scored 4 off 21 balls faced.
Suranga Lakmal, who returned magnificent figures of 6-6-0-3 on the rain-affected first day, still had great figures to show for, leaking just five runs in 11 overs and bowling nine maidens and taking three wickets.
Fresh from his county stint with Nottinghamshire, Pujara looked supreme on the off side, hitting Shanaka and Lahiru Gamage for two more boundaries past mid-off area. He was equally comfortable on the backfoot, punching a short and wide Karu.
Later, Wriddhiman Saha, who also looked uncomfortable with the extra bounce on the wicket, went into the break unbeaten on 6 from 22 balls.