Pujara will turn out to be the thirteenth Indian to play 100 or extra Tests, with Sachin Tendulkar (200 Tests) main the pack, when he units foot on the Arun Jaitley Stadium floor within the second match of the four-Test sequence on Friday.
He made his Test debut in 2010 towards Australia and has saved himself within the reckoning within the longest format ever since, overcoming the challenges in his skilled profession with exhausting work and willpower.
“I don’t want to set a target for myself. I want to be in the present. I want to take it one Test match at a time rather than thinking about how long I can play,” the 35-year-old Pujara informed ESPNCricinfo.
“It’s important to enjoy the game, it’s important to be on top of your game, and whenever you are not able to contribute, or you are not performing to the best of your abilities, you can consider the next step. I have just turned 35. There’s still some time,” he added.
On the upcoming milestone, the place his household can be there to cheer him on the stadium, Pujara stated, “Yes, it will be my 100th Test match, but you still have a job to do for the team and you focus on that a bit more. We are playing an important series against Australia.
“Yes, the second Test can be my one hundredth, however there can be two extra Tests after that which can be essential for us to win to qualify for the WTC remaining,” said Pujara, indicating the milestone will be just another footmark in his long professional career.
He counts discipline as one of the biggest prerogatives to excel in Test cricket as the five-day game tests one’s character, patience and temperament to the limit.
“You are examined in your character, in your temperament, in your endurance, as an individual. It’s additionally about the way you behave off the sphere, and that additionally has an influence on what you do on the sphere as a result of if you’re not disciplined sufficient in Test cricket, you will notice the outcomes ultimately on the sphere. That’s why Test cricket is particular,” Pujara said.
In the T20 cricket era, Pujara still feels Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game, adding that his success is on account of leading a “quite simple life”.
“Yes, T20 cricket is extra standard now however should you converse to any Test cricketer, no matter what number of matches they’ve performed, they may let you know it takes loads to turn out to be a profitable Test participant. I dwell a quite simple life and that is the rationale I do not get distracted by too many issues,” Pujara said.
Pujara wants youngsters, who only play white-ball cricket for the country, to also get some first-class games under their belt.
“If you’re simply enjoying white-ball cricket and should you goal to play Test cricket, then it is best to undoubtedly play Ranji Trophy, with none doubt. Otherwise you’ll ultimately get uncovered on the worldwide degree in red-ball cricket.
“If you look at examples of whoever has done well in Test cricket, they would have played some red-ball cricket – whether it is Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy or India A, Rest of India. It is slightly different for the bowlers, but for a batsman, it is important to play red-ball cricket,” he stated.
(With inputs from PTI)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com