Cheteshwar Pujara
Reflexes
- Cheteshwar Pujara told Ranji Trophy and County Championship important
- He was out of the India team in the test series at home against Sri Lanka
- Four consecutive centuries for Sussex
The last few months have been full of ups and downs for veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara. The journey up to his departure from the India team and then his return to the team for the test match against England was very interesting. Pujara was dropped from the Indian squad after a disappointing performance in the test series against South Africa earlier in the year. He was not included in the squad for the two-legged home test series against Sri Lanka in March. After this no one bought it at the IPL mega auction. However, Pujara did not give up and went to England and played in the County Championship and had a tremendous performance there, he not only got his form back but also made it back to Team India.
Pujara scored four consecutive centuries while playing for Sussex and forced the selectors to include him in the squad. He is playing a warm-up match before the test against England from July 1. Earlier, in an interview for BCCI TV, he talked about his form and comeback and told about his preparation.
Benefit from world-class cricket
Cheteshwar Pujara said that playing in first-class cricket at the Ranji Trophy and County Championship helped him get back to form and the national team. He said that for me it was about playing as many first-class matches as possible. This experience was important. When you want to get back in shape, when you want to find your rhythm, when you have that focus, it’s important to play some long innings.
So when he was playing for Sussex, he could have. When I played my first big innings against Derbyshire, I felt like I had found my momentum. My concentration was fine and everything was going well. I had a great time with the Sussexes.
confident in good performance
Pujara said he was confident of doing well in the county matches as he was already in good form at the Ranji Trophy. He said that I played three matches for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. He also helped me find my rhythm there. I knew he was hitting well.
Two double centuries at County Championship
Pujara, 34, was not picked in the squad for India’s home Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year. Following this, he scored 720 runs in five matches for Sussex at an average of 120. Pujara also played a 91-run innings on 83 balls against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. He scored four centuries, including two double centuries, for Sussex in the Second Division County Championship.