Pujara on preventing for his Test spot: ‘I preserve telling myself that I do know I belong there’
Cheteshwar Pujara believes he nonetheless has lots to supply India’s Test aspect, though he confesses that being dropped has generally left him pissed off, battling self-doubt and nursing a bruised ego. The veteran of 103 Test caps final represented India on the World Test Championship last in June, and was not picked for the aspect’s tour of the West Indies, their first marketing campaign of the brand new WTC cycle.
“There have been ups and downs in the last few years and it tests you as a player because having played say more than 90 Test matches, when I got dropped, I still had to prove myself, I still had to prove that I belonged there. Its a different type of challenge,” Pujara advised The Final Word podcast on the sidelines of his county stint with Sussex. “Sometimes you do get frustrated, even if you have to prove yourself after 90 Tests and five-six thousand, whatever number of runs I had scored, its not easy.
“Sometimes it performs round along with your ego. Having been profitable on the worldwide stage for thus a few years, there are nonetheless doubts – are you ok. And if it’s important to show your self time and again, [you wonder] whether or not it’s price it.”
In the 2021-23 WTC cycle, Pujara was India’s second-highest run-scorer with 928 runs at an average of 32.00, just behind Virat Kohli’s 932 at 32.13. He scored 14 and 27 in the WTC final, and was left out in the aftermath of India’s defeat to Australia at The Oval, to the chagrin of some former cricketers including Sunil Gavaskar, who felt he was being made a ‘scapegoat.’
“I preserve telling myself that I do know I belong there,” Pujara said. “I do know that the form of contributions I’ve made to Indian cricket, I nonetheless have lots to contribute. I used to be given an fascinating stat a while in the past the place I used to be advised that each time I’ve scored greater than 70 or 80 runs for the Indian staff, it’s about 80% of the occasions India have gone on to win… or we have not misplaced that exact Test match. So I do know if I rating runs for the Indian staff, most occasions we’re on the successful aspect.”
For the record, India have won 23 and lost just six of the 34 Test matches where Pujara has made at least one 70-plus score. For comparison, they have won 18 and lost 10 of the Tests in which Kohli has made 70-plus scores. This, of course, can be interpreted in a number of ways: run-scoring is often at its hardest in defeats, which tend to occur against strong bowling attacks and/or in challenging conditions.
Since being dropped for the second time in 18 months – he was also left out after the 2021-22 tour of South Africa – Pujara has been busy playing both red and white-ball cricket. Over recent weeks he has scored a second-innings 133 for West Zone against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy, and unbeaten centuries against Northants (106*) and Somerset (117*) in the One-Day Cup for Sussex. Pujara said he enjoys the domestic grind, and not just because his runs keep him in contention for Tests.
“I get pleasure from enjoying cricket for Sussex, so once I rating runs right here, it will get seen again dwelling,” Pujara said. “That isn’t the explanation why I play for Sussex. I play for Sussex as a result of I get pleasure from enjoying cricket right here. But the quantity of runs I rating right here or in home cricket again dwelling, it all the time helps me getting again into the staff.”
Pujara, India’s eighth-highest run-scorer in Tests, also said he was better off now framing his focus around his game rather than selection. He also said he doesn’t want to be “simply one other egocentric cricketer” who bats for their spot, insteading striving to remain a key match-winner for India in Tests.
“In my cricketing profession, I’ve been put below strain so many occasions the place I’ve misplaced my spot within the staff. But you simply try to play for the staff. You do not try to play on your spot,” Pujara said. “I’d preserve it quite simple as a result of in case you play on your spot, you are simply one other egocentric cricketer who’s simply being there within the enjoying XI, enjoying for the spot however not contributing to the staff.
“If I am not good enough contributing to the team, I am happy sitting at home rather than scoring. As an example, If I get out on 20 or 30 it is not that as a batsman you get out [on purpose], but if you score another 20-30 more and end up scoring a fifty and India doesn’t go on and win the Test match, is that going to be helpful for the India team? No.
“It is perhaps useful for me as a person however I by no means have that thought course of. I’m somebody who will assume that I must be ok to win video games for the India staff. Not simply attempt to survive and be a part of the enjoying XI. If you wish to be within the staff, you must wish to make a distinction. Not simply be within the staff.”
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx