Cheteshwar Pujara has had two visits to South Africa in whites. His 2010 tour when he was just about making a mark in international cricket wasn’t noteworthy, but three years later when he came back to the rainbow nation, he scored a 153 in Johannesburg and backed it up with a steady 70 in Durban. This time around Pujara feels he has garnered enough experience under his belt after his last two outings and is confident of a good show as India gear up for the 1st Test in Newlands, Cape Town.
“I have been here in 2010-11 and 2013-14. It is about knowing the game, knowing the conditions and just applying yourself,” Pujara said. “Once you play in these conditions you know what to expect from the pitch, what to expect from the opposition. Nothing can match experience. Once you have scored some runs in these conditions and spent some time on such pitches you know what do you want to do as a batsman and even as a team.
“Preparations have been fantastic so far,” he added. “Whatever net sessions we have had here, the team is very confident. We had about three net sessions so far and couple of days we had two net sessions in a day. We are well prepared, very confident and we are here to win this series. As a unit our fast bowling is much better this time. We have all the fast bowlers and they are quick. We have that advantage this time.”
Pujara reiterated that preparations have been underway keeping in mind what to expect here in South Africa. Plans have been chalked out and the team looks in good stead ahead of the 1st Test. There has been a lot of talk about bounce, the grass on the pitch come game day and the pace attack of the opposition. For India though, it was all about adjustments and playing according to the conditions on offer, Pujara believed.
“We are not bothered about the kind of pitch they will prepare. We will just try and focus on our processes. We have a clear game plan. Whether it’s a flat wicket or it has grass on it, we are prepared for it. We just want to stay focused on what we want to do as a team. Yes, bounce will always be a challenge but this time we have done enough preparation and we would like to back ourselves and just execute the things we have tried in the last one and a half months.”
As Pujara put it, this Indian side has all the qualities of becoming a great Test side that can do well abroad too. It has the perfect blend of youth that is brimming with energy to prove a point and seniors who are more than willing to share experiences and become better players. Pujara reckoned this team had in it to dominate overseas. “We have that opportunity to become a great side. We have done well in Sri Lanka and wherever we have played. This is the time we should do well. We have no excuse because we have that experience and we have that team that can dominate overseas. If we do well this will be one of the best teams India has ever had.”
