India vs Australia: ‘I am not someone who would live on past glory,’ says Cheteshwar Pujara

India vs Australia: ‘I am not someone who would live on past glory,’ says Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara

India’s most dependable Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara stood tall during the last time toured Australia in 2018. Batting at number three, Pujara amassed 521 runs in seven innings to emerge as the leading run-scorer in the series. The 32-year-old would continue playing a crucial role in the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia.

Cheteshwar Pujara said that he is not thinking about the previous series and would look to have a fresh start from here. Pujara would be India’s key batsman as skipper Virat Kohli won’t be available after the inaugural Test in Adelaide.

“I would definitely like to repeat the performance, but I am not someone who would live on past glory. Yes, it was an excellent tour but this will be a fresh start. I will have to be in my zone again. It’s not that because it worked in the past, results will follow. They never do. You have to concentrate in every innings.” Cheteshwar Pujara told Hindustan Times.

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“I think sledging is overrated. It’s irrelevant. I don’t think you can win too many battles with sledging. I don’t even know what they are saying when I am in my zone.” Cheteshwar Pujara said.

‘Meditation, prayers and yoga are part of my life’

Cheteshwar Pujara won the ‘Player of the Series’ award against Australia in 2018

Everyone is aware of the ‘monk-like zone’ that Cheteshwar Pujara gets while batting in the longer format. The Rajkot-born stated that the team would be under some pressure to repeat their series victory from the last time. He said that the opposition would have studied him but Pujara backed himself to stick to his strengths. 

“My routine – meditation, prayers and yoga are part of my life. I don’t do them consciously to improve my game but there is a correlation for sure. They help me stay calm and positive. It’s very difficult to develop after you are older.”

”Yes, they would have studied me. We won the series; I got runs, so there will be extra pressure. But that’s what one has to learn to handle. I think you just have to stick to your strength. If you watch the ball and play to the merit of the ball, you will be successful most of the time,” Pujara concluded.

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