India Tour of Australia : “It will be a different challenge,” Cheteswar Pujara on facing the pink Kookaburra in Australia


India Tour of Australia : “It will be a different challenge,” Cheteswar Pujara on facing the pink Kookaburra in Australia
Cheteshwar Pujara

Team India is up for a big challenge on their first tour post-pandemic as they go toe to toe against Australia in their backyard. The visitors landed in Sydney on Thursday following the conclusion of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 and have already started preparations for the high profile clash. The tour will kick off with a three-match T20 series on November 27 and will conclude with the most anticipated Test series.

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The Test series opener in Adelaide will be a day-night affair, India’s first on foreign soil. And Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara is looking forward to the challenge of facing the pink ball Down Under.

It will be slightly different

India during their first pink ball Test
India during their first pink ball Test

Pujara opines that facing the pink Kookaburra on the fast and bouncy Australian pitches is going to be nothing similar to their previous experience. India’s only day-night Test was against Bangladesh last year at the Eden Gardens. And the hosts went on to easily clinch it by an innings and 46 runs.

“It will be a different challenge playing with pink ball as pace and bounce also changes. We will be playing with pink kookaburra in Australia (against Bangladesh, it was Pink SG Test). It will be slightly different,” Pujara told PTI.

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The 32-year-old believes that the only way to adapt is for the team to understand and accept how things will be different from the pink Kookaburra under lights. Pujara adds that batting during the twilight will remain a challenge for both the sides. And he believes that practice is the only way to overcome it.

“As a team and as individuals, one has to understand and accept and get used to it (pink ball and lights) as early possible. There will be a bit of difference with pink ball,” he added.

The twilight period is more challenging than other periods but as you play more and practice more, you get used to it. It does take a little while,” Pujara signed off.

A coronavirus outbreak in Adelaide has jeopardised India’s tour as provincial governments in South Australia closed borders to contain the outbreak. Players from Western Australia and Tasmania states who were playing the domestic tournament have also been placed in home isolation following the sudden outbreak.

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Also read : “We have every chance of winning the Test series again” – Cheteshwar Pujara upbeat about India’s hopes Down Under