Arjuna Award will be a huge boost, says Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara is one of India’s most consistent and prolific run-getter who is highly regarded for his temperament and ability to bat for long hours; he man’s the all important number three position for the No.1 team. The right-handed batsman has been able to pile runs and get India over the line in nine out of ten matches with his ‘old’ fashioned technique and solid defence.

He was one of the standout performers at the recently concluded Test series in Sri Lanka scoring 309 runs in three matches which were laced with two important centuries. Recognizing his developing stature, Government of India is all set to honour him and 16 other with prestigious Arjuna Award.

The 29-year-old couldn’t keep the excitement within and express his gratitude saying, “It’s a huge honour for me. To be recognized and acknowledged for your hard work feels really special. This award gives me the motivation to continue working hard on my game and do well for the country.”

In last year and a half, Pujara has been in a magnificent form which eventually helped him score 1687 runs from 19 Tests at an impressive average of 62.48. He has registered 6 Test tons in the last 12 months.

The titan of the Indian Test team went on to say that, “Going into the Test series, I wanted to continue batting the way I have in the last one-and-half years. I was well-prepared for it since I went to play county cricket (for Nottinghamshire) ahead of the series. Also, I had played in Lanka during the 2015 series and that gave me a lot of confidence.”

India has a strong bench strength

Pujara felt the current Indian Test team possessed strong bench strength. “Whoever has come into the playing XI has gone on to make a contribution. Players such as Kuldeep Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Karun Nair and even Abhinav Mukund have all performed when given opportunities. Also, our batsmen have been scoring consistently.”

He will once again represent Nottinghamshire in county cricket for the last four matches of the championship. He will look to make the most of this opportunity to stay in best shape before important series against South Africa and England next year.