JOIN USIndian batsmen may have quashed the talks of them being scared of South African pace bowlers in emphatic manner, but for Cheteshwar Pujara it’s just the beginning of a new phase for Indian cricket.
“I think we have. But I think it still early and we need to do a lot. But it is a very good start for us considering the position we are in. So, we just have to take confidence from it and look to gain from whatever we have achieved in this match and carry forward from this,” said Pujara on Saturday in his post-day press conference.
Pujara explained it further. “There were a lot of talks about this tour, especially the Indian batsmen not doing well overseas but I think everybody took the responsibility and did it as a unit. It was an important innings for me as well because I wanted to score runs in SA, considering the conditions here are a little difficult.”
Pujara, who made a fine 153 in India’s second innings, then went on to describe his motivation to look for big runs whenever get set in the middle.
“I always like to score big runs and being a top-order batsman it’s my responsibility. When I score hundred and set I should try and play longer and achieve big total for the team. So, whenever I am set I feel that for the team’s purpose as well as my own achievement I should try to bat as long as possible,” he noted.
On his approach during the innings in this match, he said: “I was trying to play the ball as late as possible, trying to watch the ball till it hit the bat so that whenever there was variable bounce I could play accordingly.”
The variable bounce, Pujara said, would come into play on the last day of the match. “ I think the wicket has variable bounce and we have seen the cracks have been opening up. I think because of the variable bounce it’s tough to face pace bowlers than the spinners. As tomorrow being the last day, the wicket might slow down and we get some more turn. I think fast bowlers can do more damage.”