Johannesburg: Cheteshwar Pujara had struggled for runs in the first innings of the Johannesburg Test, which saw questions over Pujara’s ‘intent’ rise once again. In the second innings, to the surprise of many, the veteran Test batsman made his ‘intentions’ quite clear, scoring a superb 53 runs off 86 balls with the help of 10 fours.
Asked if he and Rahane felt the pressure after legendary Sunil Gavaskar had predicted that second innings could be their last chance to score big numbers, Pujara’s reply had the same positive intent that was there during his batting.
“We are confident and there is a lot of backing from team management. We have always been learning from Sunny bhai and whenever I have spoken to him, he has always been supportive, whenever I have spoken to him” Pujara said at the end of the day’s play.
“There are times when if you are going through a bad form, there will be questions. No doubt about that. But we are confident players, myself and Ajinkya, and we know we are working hard on our game. We have done well in the past and management has shown a lot of faith in us and it has paid for sure and once a batter is back in form, you keep scoring runs and keep going up and up,” said Pujara who scored his 32nd half-century today in his 94th Test.
The Indian batter has also expressed gratitude to the national team management for lending him enough support amidst his indifferent run of form at the highest level. The right-hander said he hasn’t paid attention to the ‘outside noise’ that has been doing the rounds over the past 12 months or so.
“The team management has always been supportive except the outside noise, coaching staff, captain everyone has been behind the players. And we’ve been working hard, there are times when you don’t get too many runs but, the important thing as a cricketer is about following the right routine, having good work ethics, and keep working on your game,” he stated.
3⃣2⃣nd Test FIFTY for @cheteshwar1! 👏 👏
A solid counter-attacking knock from the #TeamIndia batter 👊
India are 137/2 and now lead by 110 runs. #SAvIND
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/b3aaGXmBg9 pic.twitter.com/5C1l5j77pv
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2022
Pujara didn’t make the greatest of starts to his campaign in South Africa. He started with a golden duck in the first innings of the opening Test in Centurion and followed it up with a 16-run knock. 3 runs from 33 deliveries in the first innings of the Johannesburg Test saw questions over his techniques. But in the second innings, Pujara gave an account of his true self.
“Because there are times when you’ll not get runs, but if you follow the right processes, you get runs on the board. So, this is what has happened today and, I am sure this form will continue and we’ll get big scores in the next game as well,” the 33-year-old added.
Skipper Virat Kohli, who missed the ongoing second Test due to a back spasm, was getting better and will soon regain fitness to play. Asking about Kohli Pujara said, “Officially I cannot reveal anything more but now he (Kohli) is definitely getting better and I feel that he will be fit very soon.” he concluded.
Talking about the game, at the close of play on Day three, South Africa needed 122 runs to win the second Test with eight wickets in hand.
