Bonus viewing inside: Australian players talk about how difficult it was to bowl to Cheteswar Pujara, and experts explain why they think he’s just as valuable to the Indian batting lineup as Virat Kohli.A few evenings prior to the third Test match between India and England, Cheteshwar Pujara is travelling from Ahmedabad to his hometown of Rajkot along with his spouse and daughter.
On Tuesday night, they have a little celebration supper at home in honour of their eleventh wedding anniversary. He was scheduled to attend the stadium’s naming ceremony in honour of administrator Niranjan Shah on Wednesday at the Test site. Pujara will be with his colleagues at the Sanosara ground in the city on Thursday when India begin the Test match. On Friday, Saurashtra will play Manipur in the Ranji Trophy.
Pujara says, “We have a great chance to qualify for Ranji knockouts if we win that.” He then launches into an impassioned assessment of the Ranji season thus far. Hundreds of them, including one against Rajasthan on a tour. “It wasn’t a sandpit, but the ball turned from Day 1 and it was so satisfying to get a ton to help the team do well in the game,” he adds.
He even managed to play for Indian Oil, when he defeated the more formidable BPCL with a game-winning hundred. Evidently, batting enthusiasm hasn’t decreased. Not merely batting, but batting with the intention of helping my team win. It’s a unique sensation.
There are occasions when people outside of your circle value you more than you do. English journalists as well as former England captain Michael Atherton have expressed surprise over his absence..
