When Team India began their World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle during the tour of West Indies last year, the selectors took a big step by dropping veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara from the squad.
Instead, Shubman Gill was asked to bat at No. 3, which was Pujara’s usual spot over the last decade, and young Yashasvi Jaiswal was given a chance to bat at the top with skipper Rohit Sharma.
Since then, Jaiswal has impressed one and all with some stunning knocks while Gill, who was opening the batting for India in red-ball cricket until last year, is yet to find his feet at No. 3.
As Shubman struggled in the first three innings of the ongoing Test series against England and Virat Kohli not featuring in the series due to personal reasons, many suggestions came regarding the experienced Pujara’s inclusion in the side.
However, the selection committee overlooked the seasoned campaigner despite his good form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra. Instead, the selectors showed faith in young batters like Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan.
In an exclusive chat with The Indian Express, Cheteshwar Pujara refrained from reacting to the suggestions of his addition to the Test side.
However, the 36-year-old said that he will be ready to play with passion for India whenever the opportunity comes.
“My proudest moment was to represent the Indian team. There is a pride when I walk out to bat for India, there is nothing bigger than that. That feeling that you can win games for your country, that you can make the difference – call it X-factor or a player who will fight for the country to win a game, there is no greater feeling than that on earth. Whenever the opportunity to play for India comes, I will be ready to play with that passion and pride that’s needed and with which I have always played. That will never change,” Pujara stated.
Despite being sidelined from the national team, Pujara gets the pleasure from batting for any team he represents.
“When you are in that zone, it’s indescribable. You are in the present moment. Totally, in the here and now. I am watching the ball, trying to react to the merit of it. I have my plans, try to see if I can fit the ball in them, but I am alert, yet relaxed, to the moment. To what it demands of me. What I need to do to play this ball. You have all your experience, preparation, and then somehow, you have to let the moment live you. Be in the present. It’s such a special feeling: to be in the middle of a competitive battle, looking to take the game forward for your team, do what it takes – body blows or shots. It all becomes a muscle memory,” he explained.
In the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, Pujara has registered scores of 243*, 49, 43, 43, 66, 91, 3, 0, 110 and 25. He revealed how adding a couple of shots in his armoury has helped him lately.
“Even this Ranji season, there have been some turners. Like that game against Rajasthan. On a rank turner, you don’t allow the bowler to settle down. And you have to keep reinventing yourself. In the last 18 months to two years, I have developed the regular sweep shot and the reverse sweep. And use them in the matches these days. Else, the bowlers will feel: oh he is going to step down to drive or go back. With these sweeps, my game has become better – more all-round,” he remarked.
“If you don’t trust your defense, you will have fear of getting out on such pitches. You have to mix all of it together – attack, defense,” he added.
Pujara said he is still enjoying his game and is willing to contribute to the team’s success.
“This is what I have loved from my childhood. It was never something I had to do, but something that I wanted to do. I am still enjoying the game. To score runs, to contribute to my team’s success. There is no limit to improvement: fitness, fielding, batting,” he concluded.
