Kolkata: Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has credited his county stint with Nottinghamshire for his fighting knock of 52 against Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Eden Gardens today. It was the patient knock from Pujara that helped India post 172 runs in the first innings of the first test match at Eden Gardens. At stumps, Sri Lanka were 165/4 trailing by seven runs.
“Playing county cricket has definitely helped me,” Pujara told reporters at the post-match press conference.
“I played eight matches which is almost half of the matches as over there you play 16 games. I played four games before the Sri Lanka series and four after the series so…it gave me lot of exposure. At the same time I have played on many challenging wickets and as a cricketer I have learnt many things and I am improved and understood my game,” the 29-year old said.
Pujara said the hosts still are very much in the game and it would take a couple of wickets on the fourth day to run through the opposition.
Skipper Dinesh Chandimal (13) and Niroshan Dickwella (14) were at the crease at the time of stumps, called early due to bad light.
“At this stage we are very much in the game. Wicket has got a lot better. We got 170-odd runs now we have got four wickets. We are confident if weather permits, we will make a game out of it.
“Overall if we look at the weather, today it was much better and the clouds were not around. When the clouds were around there was help for the fast bowler. When we were fielding sun was out. Wicket now is better so there is something in it for the fast bowlers.
“They got off to a good start but we fought back. Hopeully tomorrow our fast bowlers will come good and if we can get couple of wickets early, we can run through them,” Pujara said.