Only four balls had been bowled when India’s No. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara joined M Vijay in the middle. An early wicket in the shorter format of the game may not ring alarm bells anymore, but in Test cricket it definitely puts you on the edge of your seat, particularly if you have opted to bat first and are playing with six specialist batsmen including the wicket-keeper.

The Indian dressing room does not panic for they have seen Vijay and Pujara come of the situation many a time. On Thursday, the two shared a 187-run partnership that laid a solid foundation. Captain Virat Kohli then smashed his 16th Test century in just 130 balls as India finished Day 1 on a high at 356/3, fully justifying that decision to bat. When Virat made his way to the middle, 50 overs had been bowled, which highlights the hard work of the two.

Vijay and Pujara do not share same interests and are vastly different characters, but when they are together, their similar batting styles result in lots of successful partnerships. Both have deep reserves of patience, avoid poking at deliveries outside off, present a dead bat when they need to defend, attack when the bowlers start tiring out and both look at the ball when taking singles.

Since the start of 2010, no Indian pair has added more runs. In 36 innings together, they have amassed 2429 and boast of an impressive average of 67.47, the best for any Indian pair with more than 2000 runs.

At Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, they shared their fifth century stand this home season, the most by any Indian pair. During India’s last Test at the venue, they had added 370 runs against Australia. When BCCI.TV asked Pujara for the secret of their success, the affable batsman said, “Both of us have been playing for such a long time. Both of us play the Test format and have many first-class runs. We are both eager to score runs. We communicate really well. We analyze bowlers’ plans. If he makes a mistake, I tell him and If I do something, he points out.”

Vijay said the two enjoy each other’s company in the middle. “I think he's going to become a great player - he is already a great player. It's great honour to move along with him and pick his brains. We are totally different characters in the dressing room because we don't think the same way but once we go in the middle, we enjoy the company and enjoy each other's success. He's been a fantastic role model for all the youngsters in India.”

While Vijay got his ninth Test ton, Pujara missed out on a century after getting out on 83 off a straight delivery Mehedi Hasan. Pujara, who has his second highest Test score at this venue, admitted that a big score slipped away. “It was a very good opportunity to score a double hundred. It is a very good wicket to bat on. I have got a first Test hundred here and a double hundred against Australia. I definitely feel I missed out on a big one.”

On the day, he also eclipsed a 52-year-old record held by Chandu Borde for most runs in an Indian first-class season. Borde had scored 1604 runs in 1964-65. Pujara not only went past the mark but did it in much fewer innings. Borde had played 21 games in the season while Pujara has played only 13 games. Pujara has proved his appetite for big scores as he now holds two of the top three positions. “I just found out in the dressing room that I have broken the record. It all started with the Duleep Trophy. Once I got a double hundred, my form was back and then it was only a matter of time. I always score big runs. Once I am in form, I like to continue with what I have done in the past. I am always capable of scoring big runs. The way the season started, I knew I would have enough runs at the end of the season.”