I feel good when I start scoring big runs: Cheteshwar Pujara

When Cheteshwar Pujara scores runs in domestic cricket, he is in a happy frame of mind. Getting into rhythm plays a major role in his international success. After scoring back-to-back hundreds in Sri Lanka, Pujara went through a slump. But, his 204 against Jharkhand last week and an unbeaten 115 against Gujarat on Thursday put to rest all those worried about his form. In exclusive chat with G Krishnan, the 29-year-old from Saurashtra talks about the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Excerpts:

You are back to doing what you are known to – scoring big hundreds. How good is it to be notching up yet another double century in first-class cricket?

The moment I start scoring big runs, as a batsman, my rhythm comes back and my concentration improves. Everything looks good. I feel good when I start scoring big runs. So, it is a perfect start before I head into the Sri Lankan series.

The form you are in now is ideal for the upcoming series not just against Sri Lanka but also on the tour of South Africa, isn’t it?

Basically, when you are playing international cricket, everything starts from the scratch. There is an advantage when you have scored runs against one particular team in the past (centuries in Sri Lanka in July-August). You know who are their bowlers, what their strengths are. At the same time, you still need to score runs, you still need to start again. But the good thing is that you need to be in form. The moment you start scoring runs in first-class cricket, your technique improves, the temperament is there. In a way, it is a positive sign for me.

Between back-to-back centuries in Tests in Sri Lanka and the double century in Ranji Trophy, was it bothering you that runs weren’t coming?

It was not bothering me much. At the same time, I am someone who loves scoring runs in each and every game. The thing was I was playing on some tough pitches in England when it comes to county cricket. All the matches were on challenging pitches and most of the games were low-scoring ones. I accepted my failures and I did learn so many things out of it. At times, you want to score runs. But if you get a good ball, you need to accept and move on. It wasn’t that I was going through a bad phase or that I wasn’t timing the ball well. It was just a time where I had to stay patient. I was playing on tough pitches and if I get a good ball, just accept it and learn new things, what are the things I can still improve on and then start scoring runs again. When I came back to India, in the first game, I had a little bit of jet lag but I was batting well and got good start and got out playing a bad shot for 35 (in Lahli against Haryana). Even in the next game (against J&K in Rajkot), I looked in good touch but I made a mistake and got out (for 13). So, overall I knew I was batting well. In county cricket, I was timing well. It was just a few games where I did not score too many runs. Sometimes, people expect a lot out of me because I have the habit of scoring big runs. The expectation is that I should score a hundred every second or third innings. It is difficult to always fulfil that. At the same time, I try and work hard and make sure that I am consistent enough.

You have the Indian record of most double centuries in first-class cricket (12). Is it just like any other day in office for you as you are known to make big centuries or do you feel on top of the world?

You feel proud that you have achieved something. But, at the same time, I also believe that statistics is something that will keep changing. As I keep playing, this will go on and on. I always look to perform well. The moment I keep scoring runs, I know statistics will be taken care of. My focus will be always on the game. At the same time, when you have achieved something, you get to know that the kind of hard work you have done in the past, you have been rewarded for it. You feel like working even harder and improving yourself. Whatever matches you play, you get even more rewards if you keep working hard. And, that motivates you.

You will be playing Sri Lanka back-to-back, your last Test was against them and your next will also be against them. Later comes the away tours to South Africa, England and then Australia next year. Is your preparation different from last season when you played 13 Tests at home?

Obviously, you will have to take one thing at a time. First thing will be to perform well against Sri Lanka at home. At the same time, you will have to keep at the back of your mind that these are the things that I might have to work on when I go to South Africa. We still have enough time before going to England. I will take it one series at the time. I will also be preparing for South Africa, for sure, when time permits. When you travel abroad, you have to alter a few things. Obviously, the basic things remain the same. You have to have different preparations depending on the country you are visiting. If you are going to South Africa, there are certain things that I know that I need to do to perform well there, and I will work on them. I have played enough cricket in England that when we go there, I know the things I need to do there.

How satisfying was it to score a century in your 50th Test match (133 at SSC, Colombo)?

It is a good achievement. When I played my 50th Test, I wanted to score some runs. Eventually, I got a hundred and was happy about that. All the landmarks will come and go as long as I keep performing well, as long as I am focussed on what I want to do. In the present, and moving forward, there are certain things in my mind. I will keep working on them. Ultimately, my performance will keep happening if I focus on these few things.

PUJARA’S LIST OF DOUBLE/TRIPLE CENTURIES

302*
Saurashtra vs Odisha, 2008-09

204*
Saurashtra vs Maharashtra, 2009-10

208*
India ‘A’ vs West Indies ‘A’, 2010

206*
India vs England, Ahmedabad, 2012-13

203*
Saurashtra vs Madhya Pradesh, 2012-13

352
Saurashtra vs Karnataka, 2012-13

204
India vs Australia, Hyderabad 2012-13

306*
India ‘A’ vs West Indies ‘A’, 2013-14

269
Saurashtra vs Tamil Nadu, 2013-14

256*
India Blue vs India Red, 2016-17

202
India vs Australia, Ranchi 2016-17

204
Saurashtra vs Odisha, 2017-18