'A tough pitch to score runs on' – Pujara after gritty century

Pujara brought up the slowest of his 17 hundreds – reaching the mark off his 280th delivery – in the third Test of the series between Australia and India at Melbourne, but his strike-rate wasn't of any relevance as it was his steely century that anchored India's innings, and powered them to 443/7 before Virat Kohli declared.

Pujara stated that it was difficult to score quickly on the pitch. He also added that the pitch was getting trickier – he himself was dismissed by one that kept unexpectedly low from Pat Cummins for 106.

"It is a tough pitch to score runs on. If you look at the first two days, the number of runs scored (in a day) is very (few). In a way, scoring 200 in a day is a tough task.

"I felt there was a difference I felt while batting in how the wicket was on the first day and today on day two. So I think we have enough runs on board. You have to bat according to the wicket. On another wicket, I may have scored 140 or 150 after facing so many balls."

In recent times Pujara has sometimes been under pressure for not scoring runs at the same consistency overseas as he does at home, but by bringing up his second century on this tour, the batsman has laid those suggestions to rest.

"I always knew I can score runs. It is always good to get those hundreds. It was a perception that I always score runs at home. But India play a lot of Test matches at home, I have always said that. Sometimes, things become really difficult, especially when you are on an overseas tour. It's not easy to score runs.

"My job is to score runs and I'll keep doing that, whether its home or away. Sometimes you get criticised and you just have to accept it. But if India keep winning, ultimately everyone is happy.