If another partner is trying to take the bowler on, it allows me to play my natural game: Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara forms the backbone of India’s batting line-up in the purest format of the game and has essayed an underrated role in India’s stunning victory in the just-concluded four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia by 2-1. Though the right-hander had initially struggled for the runs, he regained his form in the last two Test matches and amassed 208 runs across the last four innings.

The 33-year-old believes that India’s new opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubhman Gill helped him play his natural game in the last two Test matches. The visiting nation had replaced their regular Test opening duo of Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal after they failed to produce results with Gill and Rohit from the third Test at Sydney Cricket Ground.

This move had reaped good results for the visitors as the duo put up two 50-plus partnerships in four innings and were able to middle the ball well. Speaking about the two players, Pujara revealed that both of them have aggressive batting style and are more interested in dominating the opposition bowlers. This helps him in playing his natural game by allowing him to spend some time on the field.

“Both (Gill and Rohit) of them are attacking players. That does help me in some way. If another partner is trying to take the bowler on, it allows me to play my natural game.” Cheteshwar Pujara said in an interview with Hindustan Times.

Cheteshwar Pujara likes batting with attacking batsmen

Further the Rajkot-born asserted that he loves playing with attacking batsman like Virender Sehwag as they put pressure on the opposition and he doesn’t need to come out of his comfort zone and keep up with the run rate.

“I have batted with Viru pajji (Sehwag) also, where he would have already put the opposition under pressure with his batting. That’s a great way to build a partnership,” Pujara added.

Cheteshwar Pujara had stitched a similar kind of partnership with Rishabh Pant during the second innings of the third Test in Sydney. Pujara had held his fort on one end and had registered a knock of 77 runs off 205 balls. This had helped Pant in attacking the bowlers without any worry and the duo together had played a crucial role in saving the Test for the visitors.