Just like all the cricketers in the world, India’s leading Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is currently sitting at home in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed more than 59,000 lives and infected over 1,119,000 people globally thus far.
WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah mops the floor of his house during quarantine
India too has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak as the country reported close to 3000 positive cases and 68 deaths as of April 4.
In order to limit the spread of deadly virus, Indian government had imposed a nationwide lockdown for three weeks on March 24 and Pujara believes it was a "very good step taken at the right time".
"I would say that it is a very good step taken by the government and I would say that it's taken at the right time because the way the virus spreads and it has in other countries like the US, they have shut. And in our country especially the population is so big, it becomes very difficult to control this spread. Being a sportsperson yes I do agree that it becomes difficult but personally I fully support this and all the citizens should understand that this is for their own safety,” Pujara told India Today.
"Maybe at times it's not easy but one has to start looking at positives like you get to spend time with your family and a lot of free time. So I would like to say to all the people to utilise that time and make sure to spend enough time with the family but at the same time try and help your family members. I personally try and help by cleaning, not cooking because i can't cook but i try and help my wife as much as i can. So it's also important to get engaged in activities which you might not have done in the past," he added.
Asked how he himself is spending this spare time with no cricket happening anywhere in the country, Pujara replied that his two-year-old daughter Aditi keeps him busy.
"My daughter is quite young so if I keep the camera on her she is really happy. Most of the times Puja, my wife, is around but with both of her parents around, she is happiest at the moment. She also enjoys playing and I make sure that she is looked after well. We try and do creative stuff with her. She is very young and energetic, she wants to play so we make sure to engage her in indoor games, sometimes she likes coloring and I try to help her with that. We have a small garden at our house and we play badminton with her - not proper badminton but she plays with a racquet and a shuttle," he remarked.
Pujara’s heart goes out to all those people who are surviving this lockdown alone. But for India's Test No.3, even being isolated alone wouldn't be much of a problem.
"If I have to be isolated I can spend enough time with myself and I don't need anyone (laughs). I like reading books, so I'll do that. Fortunately my family is around but still I think I would manage," he said.
Pujara also thinks cricket coming to a grinding halt owing to COVID-19 is a welcome break for Indian cricketers, who have been on the road since World Cup in UK last year.
"I would say that this is the right time for everyone to take a break because the guys have been playing a lot of cricket so I think this break is not going to harm anyone. Most of these guys are professionals enough to still work on their fitness. Once the cricket starts, I'm sure they will be ready for it, stay fresh mentally and physically. I'm sure whenever we play next, even if they haven't been playing lot of cricket recently, but this break will help them stay fresh," he concluded.
