One of India’s finest Test batters of his generation, Cheteshwar Pujara, continues to knock of the national team’s doors after being dropped. While a few others like Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer haven’t cemented their spots in the team, Pujara continues to pile runs in the Ranji Trophy, making the selectors’ heads turn. But, it isn’t always easy to focus on the task at hand when a player has been dropped from the national team. But, for Pujara, it’s his passion that continues to drive him.
Pujara, a veteran of 103 Tests for India, is already 36, an age where making a comeback to the national team could be deemed tough by many. But, the motivation that the Saurashtra player has, knows no bounds.
In an interview, Pujara was asked how he prepared himself for the Ranji Trophy after getting dropped from the Indian team. His response is a message to selectors in itself.
“By playing a competitive club match in Mumbai just before the Ranji season. I just love this game. I am passionate about it. I got a hundred in that match against Dhawal Kulkarni, Sandeep Sharma, Shams Mulani and Shivam Dube. My club team was weaker against the opposition. So, I wanted to ensure I put my best foot forward and we won the match,” Pujara told Hindustan Times.
“I am saying this because that’s exactly why I play for Saurashtra. I want us to qualify for the Ranji knockouts. It’s about having the same passion whether it is Saurashtra, Sussex or my club. Obviously, there is different pride playing for the country. But you keep continuing the hard work. Try and follow the same routine,” he added.
When asked if playing domestic competitions gets tougher after witnessing the peak of international cricket, Pujara was once again spot-on with his answer.
“For a cricketer, new peaks keep coming. It’s about working on your game, refining it. For the last one-and-half years, I have been working on my sweep shots, my reverse sweep as well as lofted shots. There are times in Ranji Trophy when you encounter tough pitches, where teams are bowled out for 150-200 and the matches finish in two-and-half days. That’s when it doesn’t matter whether you have played 100 Tests or have 10,000 Test runs, you are bound to get out. That’s when you need some unorthodox shots. And it’s paying off. I have seen results for me this season on difficult pitches,” he said.
The veteran batter has already scored 673 runs at an average of 74.77 in this Ranji Trophy season. His purpose of scoring runs for India, hasn’t died yet either.
“Definitely”, The way I have been batting and keeping up with my fitness, I am very confident. Scoring runs in Ranji Trophy is not a piece of cake, even though people may want to say it. There is no DRS and decisions don’t always go your way. To keep scoring one has to work hard and be at the top of the game. I hope I will be able to continue to contribute at whichever level I get an opportunity.”
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