#INDvAUS: Sad to hear comments against Virat. We fully support him, says Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara is not known for playing mind games. His forte has been his solid technique accompanied by a cool temperament. And yet, he has often been at the receiving of his opponents trying to break his mental strength by resorting to various forms and ways of sledging.

However, Team India's most solid batsman has mastered the art of not getting affected by any such measures. His 202 under some of the most hostile conditions in Ranchi's third Test is one such example. Pujara knows that the third double century of his career came at the most appropriate time, when his team was staring at the barrel after losing the toss and seeing Australia notch up 451.

And while the off-field controversies continue to remain the flavour of this series going into the final Test, Pujara refuses to lose focus from the series' decider here in this new hilly Test centre.

Asked about how the players are reacting to some nasty comments in the Australian media of comparing captain Virat Kohli with USA President Donald Trump, Pujara played it with a straight bat in his own cool style.

"It's really sad to hear such comments. We fully support Virat and he is one of the great ambassadors of the game," Pujara said here on Thursday.

What Pujara said makes a lot of sense. Gone are the days when the Aussies used to demoralise Indians with their tried and tested mind games and attacks on the players. The GenNext of Team India under Kohli is well equipped, or even better equipped than their opponents when it comes to giving it back in style. No wonder Cricket Australia amicably settled all the dust that arose after the end of the second Test in Bengaluru with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

"The focus has shifted somewhere else. We are focussed on the game and he (Virat) is a great leader. We are looking forward to the next game rather than worrying about anything else," Pujara said while referring to how Aussie skipper Steve Smith conveniently brushed off his DRS fiasco by terming it a "brain fade" moment.

The 29-year-old right-hander, who faced the most deliveries by an Indian batsman in a single Test innings during his marathon 525-ball knock of 202 in Ranchi, put his immaculate knock down to the hard work that he has put in since his childhood.

"I think when it comes to patience, it is all hard work. I started playing cricket at the age of eight and then I played first for the state team at the age of 13. Since then, I have been playing this format and I think it's the experience of playing domestic circuit and working hard, day in and day out, (that is) is paying off now," Pujara said on his marathon effort in Ranchi.

The Saurashtra batsman has already surpassed Chandu Borde's record of most first-class runs in a season and is now just a century away from equalling VVS Laxman's record of eight centuries in a single season.

"Along with patience, it is all down to hard work. Also, I don't really think when I am batting out there in the middle. I try and keep my mind really blank," Pujara said.

The No. 3 batsman is not worried about how Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association wicket will play over the next few days. Each batsman in this Indian team has played enough matches here to understand that there is no point worrying too much about the increase in bounce as long as the focus remains static.

"We have played enough first-class cricket to know the conditions. We will just try and focus on things which we want to focus on rather than worrying about how the wicket will play," said Pujara.