XtraTime Web Desk: India’s star batsman Cheteshawar Pujara looked very pleased after scoring an useful 72 runs for his team in the second innings of the third test in Nottingham. Pujara was out of form for a long period of time and his return to form is good news for the team management. Though he didn’t score too many runs while playing county cricket ahead of the test series, but he credited playing the county cricket helped him to do well against England here.
“I think I was always confident although I didn’t score too many runs in County cricket but I was playing on challenging pitches. I always felt that I was batting well especially in the nets, especially the way I was timing the ball. I was very confident that I was up for a big one. The way I batted in this innings, I felt that whatever I was working on in the nets, it came along. Really pleased to score those 72 runs, valuable 72 runs for the team,” said Pujara at the post day 3 press-conference.
James Anderson is bowling really well for England in this series and thanks to him the home side is leading the five-match series 2-0. Pujara feels that playing him in 2014 in similar conditions have helped him to play better this time against Anderson.
“First of all I’ve faced Anderson in the past. He’s a great bowler no doubt but facing him in 2014 in similar conditions has helped me. I knew what areas he bowls in and what should be my game plan. I was clear with my game plan. I think facing him in the past helped me because I’ve played him even in Indian conditions. He’s a great bowler. It’s always challenging to bat against them,” added Kohli.
On being asked about the current condition of the wicket, Pujara said, ”There is enough help for the fast bowlers. In the first session we saw a number of deliveries rose and many balls also stayed low. But the way we bowled in the first innings, if we bowl like that we have a good chance of bowling them out tomorrow.”
Pujara heaped praise about Virat Kohli’s remarkable 23rd Test ton which have helped India to post a huge total of 521 runs to win for England.
“He batted brilliantly. He has been batting well since the first test match. He is in good touch and is making the most of it. Some shots which he is playing on this pitch which is very difficult for any other batsman to execute and that shows he is in good form and batting really well,” concluded Pujara.