India’s Test specialist batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has defended himself by saying “I have to bat in the manner I know” and he “couldn’t have done anything better” after being criticized for his slow approach on Day 3 of the ongoing Sydney Test against Australia.
The right-hander was criticized for his slow approach at the crease after he took 174 balls to score his first fifty of the ongoing tour of Australia before being dismissed by Pat Cummins for 50 on Saturday in the ongoing third Test at Sydney Cricket Ground. He further admitted that he got out on the best ball of this series bowled by Cummins on Saturday and he would respect that.
He further insisted that Indian batsmen are trying their best but sometimes they don’t have answers to the unplayable deliveries as the tourists finished their first innings at 244 in the ongoing Test.
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Pujara told ANI during the virtual press conference after the end of Day 3 play: “We are trying our best, but sometimes Pat Cummins has a better idea, sometimes he was bowled some of the unplayable deliveries, for example, the ball which I got, if there was any other batter, I felt that was the best ball of this series, sometimes you have to accept it, we are trying our best as a batting unit. It is not just about him, it is important to bat well as a unit.”
He further explained, “I have got out against him four times but some of them were really good balls, we need to respect that, overall I am confident about my batting, I would rather focus on the things I need to as a batsman rather than put too much pressure on him getting me out. The way I was batting today, I was really confident. The way I got out today, I have to accept that. I could not have done anything better, I would rather focus on the things I need to do as a batsman. I just have to bat in the manner I know to bat, even as a batting unit, you need to build partnerships and bat well as a unit.”
Noteworthy, Cummins dismissed Pujara for the fourth time in the ongoing four-Test series and recently, former Ricky Ponting has suggested that the latter’s approach was not right and his approach put more pressure on other Indian batsmen.
(With ANI Inputs)
