7 Dec 2018

Cricket: Pujara saves India on opening day

6:43 am on 7 December 2018

India's centurion Cheteshwar Pujara says he'll coach his fast bowlers on how to capitalise on a challenging Adelaide Oval pitch.

India will resume on Friday's second day of the first Test against Australia at 9-250, an innings held together by Pujara's superb 123.

Pujara faced 243 deliveries in a century of split personality.

Initially, Pujara was circumspect as India stumbled to 127-6 - his first 50 runs came from 153 balls.

Cheteshwar Pujara.

Cheteshwar Pujara. Photo: Photosport

But then, batting with the tail, Pujara accelerated and made his next 50 from 78 balls to score his 16th Test century.

"It's not an easy wicket to bat on," he said.

"Sometimes when you are seeing it on TV, it doesn't look like it is doing a lot. But when I batted the first and second session, I felt that it was not easy to bat on."

Pujara said he would now turn to coaching India's bowlers on the best methods for extracting the most from the Adelaide pitch.

"The fast bowlers, I will share my experience of what line and length to bowl on on this pitch," he said.

"The odd ball is skidding on and the odd ball is holding a bit more ... it's kind of two-paced."

-AAP