Internet Desk: World No.1 Indian Test team will tour South Africa next year in the month of January. The cricket pundits have already started to tell that this would be the acid test for the Indian batsman on a fast wicket. India’s star top order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara thinks that their home series against Sri Lanka would give him a “good opportunity” to prepare ahead of the South Africa tour.
“Obviously, next year’s South Africa series is something that is there at the back of my mind. The upcoming Sri Lanka series will be a good opportunity to prepare for the South Africa assignment. I am confident of doing well,” Pujara told PTI during an interaction.
On being asked whether he has already started to prepare for the South Africa series, which will start at Cape Town on January 6, Pujara said.”The main preparation will certainly start closer to the series. But I believe once we assemble to play the Test series against Sri Lanka, there will be some serious discussions on the South African tour. There will be strategies and plans in place.”
Asked if he is keen doing some special preparations for the bouncy pitches of South Africa, Pujara replied: “Like every series, I will be doing my own homework. There are a few areas that I will like to work in the nets before the series. Those are very specific things but it will be unfair to reveal them as that’s a part of the strategy.”
Pujara had a fantastic outing against Sri Lanka few months back with scores of 153 and 133 in the first two Tests at Galle and Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack wasn’t upto the mark during that series but the Saurashtra right-hander will not like to be complacent ahead of a new series.
“I agree that during the last series, Sri Lanka’s bowling attack may not been one of the best but Test runs never come easy. You have to fight for every run that you score in longer format.
“Also every series is a new series. Your intensity does not change according to the opposition you play. Sri Lanka is also an international side and you have to give them the same respect like any other team,” said the 29-year-old, who has scored 4107 runs in 51 Tests with 13 hundreds.
Along with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, Pujara has been a pillar of the Test squad, giving the batting order much-needed solidity.
Ask him if he can copy Kohli’s flamboyant style of batsmanship, Pujara said that it is not the best thing to do.
“Each and every batsman has his own distinct style of batsmanship. It’s of no use trying to copy anyone else. Each and every player has his own strengths and builds his game accordingly,” concluded Pujara.
With PTI inputs.