IND vs AUS 2023: That was one of the most important innings in my cricketing career – Cheteshwar Pujara on his debut knock against Australia

India’s veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara has played some match-winning and special knocks for India in his career of 99 Test matches. There have been some brilliant centuries which Pujara has scored in foreign conditions but the right-hander revealed that his debut knock against Australia was important innings in his career.

Pujara made his Test debut against Australia in 2010 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore in the presence of stalwarts like Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Zaheer Khan, and Harbhajan Singh.

The right-hander could only manage four runs in the first innings but he scored 72 runs in the second dig against the visitors to help India register a seven-wicket win. Pujara feels he might not have been playing International cricket if not for that match-winning knock in maiden Test.

Pujara said on the eve of the second Test match in the press conference, “It’s difficult to name (one or) two particular innings. Some of my favorite innings I can mention here, especially the one where I made my debut and scored 72. That was one of the most important innings in my cricketing career. I was very nervous. If I hadn’t scored those runs, maybe I might not have been playing international cricket.”

Pujara is known for his temperament under pressure and he has time and again delivered for the team. The 35-year-old feels discipline is one of the key factors behind his success.

“Ashwin has recently spoken about me being very stubborn. As long as you stick to your methods, as long as you are confident about your ways, you can be successful. One has to be disciplined to succeed in Test matches. I have certain routines; I pay a lot of attention to my fitness.

“I do yoga, meditation and pranayam, which has helped me to be in the present and shut down the outside noise. Sometimes you have to detach yourself from what is being spoken outside, be it in a newspaper, or on social media, even if it is positive.”

Pujara feels one has to be mentally strong to be successful at the top level and he has been able to back himself for a long time now.

“It is challenging. You need to be mentally strong. You need to believe in yourself. You should know your strength as a player. That is something which I have backed throughout my career. If I had success in the first five or seven years because of what I have done, I can’t change my game.

The second Test match will be played in Delhi from Friday.