Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara is set to complete a coveted milestone of 100 Tests during the second game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on Friday (February 17) in Delhi.
Pujara will become the 13th Indian cricketer to achieve this feat, having made his debut in 2010 against Australia.
On the eve of the match, Pujara addressed a press conference, where he said that he never thought he will be playing the 100th Test match for India when he started his career.
The 35-year-old also expressed his desire to lift the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) trophy for India.
“When I started playing cricket and then made my (Test) debut, I never thought about playing hundred Test matches. For me, it is always about being in the present and not thinking too far ahead. So, for me, I thought before this series started and that's when I realised that I will be playing my hundredth Test match. In a career, you always go through ups and downs, and you have to fight through those periods,” Pujara said in the pre-match presser.
India won the opening Test against Australia by an innings and 132 runs in Nagpur last week. With a spot in the WTC final at stake, the Rohit Sharma-led side needs to win two more Tests in the four-match series.
"There is a lot more to achieve. I am definitely satisfied and really excited to play this hundredth Test match. But at the same time, we are playing an important series. So, hopefully, we win this Test match and move on to win another Test match which will ensure we will qualify for the WTC final. My dream is to win a WTC final for the Indian team, which didn't happen in the last final. But hopefully, once we qualify, we move towards that," he added.
In 99 Tests so far, Cheteshwar Pujara has amassed 7021 runs at an average of 44.15 with 19 hundreds and 34 half-centuries to his name.
India’s Test specialist expressed gratitude for the support of his friends, family, and coaches throughout his career.
"It means a lot to me and my family. My father has played a very important role in my cricketing career. He's someone who has coached me since my childhood, so he's very excited and is going to be here tomorrow with my wife, who's been very supportive," Pujara stated.
"In a cricketer's life, family support is very important and I am very thankful to my family, friends, to the coaches whom I have worked with over some time and who have played a very important role in my cricketing career," said the senior batter.
(With ANI Inputs)
