While Cheteshwar Pujara had the best seat in the house to watch Sachin Tendulkar’s masterful 74-run knock in India’s first innings of the Mumbai Test, he was also the man under most pressure.
The Wankhede Stadium was roaring with Sachin chants and Pujara was the man who was eating into their ‘Sachin time’ every time he took strike. Credit to the young man, he not only handled the pressure but thrived in it and brought up his fifth Test century. En route his 113, Pujara put up 144 runs with Tendulkar for the third wicket.
“It was a very good partnership,” Pujara said at the end of day-two before admitting to the crowd distraction. “Initially it was very difficult for me to concentrate because there was a lot of noise from the crowd. Sachin paaji faced the first ball before me because (Murali) Vijay got out. It was really difficult but he told me to just stay focused. Once I played few balls it was easy for me to bat,” Pujara said.
The partnership ended when Narsingh Deonarine dismissed Tendulkar for 74. Pujara, who watched him hit those stunning straight drives, punches, sweeps and cover drives, said he enjoyed the innings to the fullest.
“It was disappointing when he got out but the way he batted was really amazing. It was wonderful to see him score those runs. I am sure he would’ve been as determined to score runs today as he was in his first Test.
“He always looks in form and it’s a pleasure to watch him bat. Another thing is that he was also guiding me through whenever I was losing my concentration. He came to me and told me to buck up and stay focused. I had a partnership with him on my Test debut and had one again today. It is really a good feeling,” Pujara gushed.
India’s young No. 3 batsman also admired the maestro’s ability to stay cool even when emotions ran amuck all around him. “It is not easy to stay calm when you are playing your last game. I think there was a lot of expectation from him since he was playing in Mumbai and it was his last Test match. But the way he batted was incredible. I think only he could have done this.”
While on the subject of the tremendous start to his own Test career, Pujara’s words reiterated his perennial hunger for runs. “I have got a very good start in Test format and I have been scoring runs. I just want to continue the way I am batting.
“However, I still am a little bit disappointed because I had the opportunity to score more runs. I am known to score big runs and today I got out for 113. But on the whole, I am happy the way things have panned out,” he said.
Besides Pujara’s 113 and Tendulkar’s 74, there was another gem in the Indian batting lineup in form of Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 111. When asked to pick the best knock of the Indian innings, Pujara didn’t have to think twice.
“I would say Sachin’s innings was the best because he was playing his last game and it is not easy to focus and concentrate. There is a lot of nervousness and the way crowd was supporting, it was good on the crowd’s part, but when you are in the middle it is difficult to concentrate. So I would rate Sachin’s innings as the best.” He said.
Pujara also had a word of praise for India’s newest Test batting star. He complimented Rohit on his composure and sensibility during his 80-run stand with tailender, Mohammed Shami.
“I felt Rohit batted with the tail the way VVS Laxman did,” Pujara said. “It was not easy to score runs. He was batting on 50 or 60 when we were eight down and from there onwards to score a hundred is a big achievement. And he has started off well, even in the first Test match so he is in good form.”
The likes of Pujara, Rohit and Virat Kohli have assured with their performances that Tendulkar and co. have left Indian cricket in good hands. Pujara credits Tendulkar for preparing the gen-next for the future.
“There is a lot of input from Sachin Paaji on the way the youngsters are shaping up. I have been noticing since I made my debut that not only me but a lot of youngsters have benefitted from his inputs and the kind of conversations we have during the nets.
“For instance, before this match the conversation with him was that I was not playing well in the nets to the balls going through me. I was struggling against the outswingers a bit. He told me that my right shoulder is opening up a bit and I should be a bit side on. He also told me to have a little bigger stride. I tried it and it helped,” Pujara revealed.
