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[caption id="attachment_39809" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Cheteswar Pujara has come in support of Virat Kohli | File Image[/caption]  

Internet Desk: Cheteswar Pujara has come in support of Virat Kohli. The Indian batsman defended his captain following a strong criticism aimed at Kohli from Australian media.

“He is a great leader and so we are fully supporting him," Pujara told reporters in Dharamsala.

Pujara had strong reservations of the comment “Donald Trump of Indian Sport” labeled against Kohli by the Daily Telegraph of Australia. According to him it was uncalled for as the focus has now shifted away from the series.

"I think it's really sad to hear such comments. We fully support Virat and he is one of the great ambassadors of this game," Pujara told reporters.

He added, "I think the focus has shifted somewhere else, which shouldn't have happened. We are very much focussed on the game."

Pujara is coming back after a brilliant double century in the third test at Ranchi. The Sourashtra batsman has been in sublime form, scoring 348 runs from the last three tests. Commenting on the secret of his success Pujara said, "I think when it comes to patience, it is all hard work. I started playing cricket at the age of 8 and then I played first (representative) game 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 is paying off now."

The Saurashtra batsman had faced the maximum deliveries by an Indian batsman in a single Test innings. He faced 525 balls in Ranchi, becoming the first batsman to play the most number of balls in an innings.

"I can say that at times, I am in that zone where things are happening for me because of that experience, because I know how to do things, how to continue batting and how to continue concentrating for a longer periods of time. I don t really think when I am batting out there in the middle. I try and keep my mind really blank," said Pujara on his knock at Ranchi.  Pujara attributed the disciplined lifestyle for his success in recent times.

"I focus on my diet. I try and sleep on time and have a good sleep. Do some recovery sessions, have a massage. Those sort of things. I have some routines once the match finishes. I try and focus on that. I give a lot of importance to recovery,” said Pujara.

"I don't know mentally, I think you just have to be up for it. Mentally, you can't do anything extra to just come out of it but when you are tired, you just have to motivate yourself and the ultimate goal is to win matches for the team and win this particular series," added Pujara