Veteran India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara reckons an adjustment in his mindset and approach, taking a more aggressive and “fearless” route was the main motivation behind his encouraging return to form during the Test series in England in August.
Pujara was facing heavy scrutiny for his lack of big scores for the year till the second innings of the Lord’s Test where his pivotal 45 was crucial to India’s revival and victory. The 33-year-old followed that up with a resilient knock of 91 in the second-innings at Headingley and played another impactful innings of 61 in the win at The Oval.
The innings in Leeds saw Pujara bat in a more freeflowing fashion as he pounced on anything loose and put the pressure back on the opposition bowlers in a different style to his usually patient and stoic avatar.
The batter ended the series as India’s third-highest run-getter with 227 runs from his 8 innings. Only three other batters from either side averaged higher than Pujara’s 32.42 with a minimum of 150 runs.
When asked whether this promising recovery from a prolonged dip was down to an adjustment in his mindset after facing criticism over his intent and place, Pujara nodded in agreement.
“Yes, I feel so. When it comes to performing, the mindset was a little different but when it comes to technique I don’t think there was a major change in technique. It was just the approach and I was a little fearless which helps.
“You don’t need to put too much pressure on yourself and just try and go there and enjoy the game rather than worrying too much about what’s going around.”
“That was the mindset during England series. So far preparation has been good and experiences of playing in Indian conditions will help in the next couple of Tests,”
he told PTI at a presser on the eve of the two-match home Test series against New Zealand, starting November 25.
From time to time, Pujara, who has been such a vital cog in India’s Test batting wheels over the last decade, has played some fantastic knocks even in this phase of his career, although a hundred has eluded him since January 2019.
Since returning from a legendary tour of Australia back in 2018-19, Pujara has made 11 half-centuries in 22 Tests, but the lack of big scores has meant his average in this period stands at a measly 28.86.
Pujara, however, said he is not overly concerned about the same and is backing himself to produce the goods for the team in the upcoming season, including a challenging tour of South Africa.
“As far as my hundred is concerned, when it has to happen it will happen. My job is to bat well for the team and it’s not that I haven’t been getting runs.
I have got 80s and 90s. As long as I am batting well and contributing for the team, I am not bothered about my hundred. It’s matter of one innings,”
he added.
Pujara also talked about taking “added responsibility” for the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (first Test) and KL Rahul for the New Zealand series. He said it makes him more determined to score and share his experiences with the youngsters in the squad.
The 33-year-old defended stand-in captain and his middle-order partner Ajinkya Rahane amidst heaps of criticism that he has been facing for a long time because of an extended run of inconsistency and backed him to come up with the goods against the Kiwis.
