India vs Australia: 'Great 100 by a great player and one of the nicest guys', Twitter lauds Cheteshwar Pujara's 17th Test ton

Dogged Pujara stroked 106 to propel India to 443 on Day 2 of the third Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

A 170-run stand between Pujara and captain Virat Kohli (82) put India in a dominant position in the third Test Thursday as Australia's openers survived half a dozen nervy overs before the close.

Cheteshwar Pujara celebrates after scoring his 17th Test ton at the MCG. AP

A stoic Pujara had been unflappable in his 319-ball innings until Pat Cummins sent down a rocket that stayed low, breached his defence and clattered into the stumps.

Pujara, who has scored more runs and faced more balls than any other batsman in the series, added 38 to his overnight 68 in another tremendous knock by a man who has now scored 17 Test tons and two in this series. As always, Twitter was abuzz and Twitterati showered praise on India's rock as he reached his 17th Test ton at the MCG.

Days like these when all the sacrifice and coaching of his father Arvind and early practices at the the “Railways Parkland” must bring great great satisfaction to Cheteshwar Pujara and his family. 17th Test century. Solid as a rock👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.

— ian bishop (@irbishi) December 27, 2018

Another great 💯 by a great player & by one of the nicest guys in the game 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Well done buddy #pujara #runmachine #genuineniceguy https://t.co/AMQ4If3h0R

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 27, 2018

This century by @cheteshwar1 has laid the foundation for India to get ahead in this match. One more good partnership needed. The bounce is already uneven, which is a good sign for #TeamIndia. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/CPfDNTLpxj

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 27, 2018

The first time Pujara has got two hundreds in an overseas series. This has been the year he has been reborn as a batsman

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) December 27, 2018

Since 1 Jan 2017, Cheteshwar Pujara is the only batsman to face over 4000 balls in Test cricket!
He has so far faced 4633 balls in 40 innings i.e. facing an ave of 116 balls per innings.
Next best: 3796 balls in 39 innings by Virat Kohli (ave balls/inns: 97)#AusvInd#AusvsInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 27, 2018

If you had to find to pick a batsman to bat for your life in the current generation, that man would be Pujara for me. Is there anyone who sticks around quite like him? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/wGx8TZ3pzx

— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) December 27, 2018

Most balls to 100 for India in Australia:
307 R Shastri, SCG, 1992
286 S Gavaskar, Adelaide, 1985
280 C PUJARA, MCG, 2018
273 M Amarnath, SCG, 1986#AUSvIND

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) December 27, 2018

Another fantastic 💯 from @cheteshwar1 👏🏻

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 27, 2018

Pujara Pathway of patience 💯 👍 https://t.co/vJjwYZ0kUi

— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) December 27, 2018

With inputs from AFP