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'Familiarity with conditions helped'

Last Updated 04 March 2013, 19:32 IST

Cheteshwar Pujara became the second fastest Indian batsmen to 1000 Test runs during the course of his second double ton here against Australia on the third day of the second Test.

While maintaining that he wasn’t aware of the records he has set in the wake, the right-hander expressed great satisfaction over his effort at a venue that has seen him score two tons in as many Tests.

“Yeah, so far it’s been good playing at this ground,” said Pujara who struck his maiden ton against New Zealand last year at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. “I think it helped playing against New Zealand and getting a hundred here in the past. I knew the wicket well and it helped.”

Soon after reaching the double ton, the 24-year-old hooked James Pattinson only to be caught at backward square leg. This wasn’t first occasion Pujara has been dismissed while attempting that shot. “I think it’s a scoring opportunity,” he began.

“...But you need to play the shot (when the ball is) at the right height. The ones which are above the shoulder I need to leave those balls alone. I still need to learn on that shot and I will be working on it for sure,” he explained.

Pujara had pulled a hamstring on the opening day but he soldiered on bravely. The batsman admitted it was a bit difficult to concentrate on batting for a while.

“It was very difficult for me to run and even focus on my batting. When my hamstring was sore, I just wanted to hang around and let the time go by and afterwards I was much better and could concentrate on my batting. The injury is settling down and I hope I will be better.”

The Saurashtra batsman said exploiting the rough on the surface led to the dismissals of David Warner and Phil Hughes, who were bowled round their legs while attempting to sweep off-spinner R Ashwin, in the second innings. In fact, MS Dhoni didn’t want Ashwin to bowl over the wicket initially but eventually relented.

“I think the plan was to bowl in the rough. The ball was spinning a bit from the rough, even when I was batting. That was the plan,” he pointed out.

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(Published 04 March 2013, 19:32 IST)

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