PTI
Kanpur, Sept 19: India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has said that runs in Duleep Trophy have given him a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the Test series against New Zealand starting here Thursday at the Green Park.
Pujara did not have a great run during the West Indies tour last month and even missed out from the playing XI in the third Test.
Pujara had played two marathon knocks of 166 and 256 not out in the Duleep Trophy. “I would agree that the Duleep Trophy double century was a sort of an innings that I needed before the start of a Test series. Actually the 166 that I scored in my first game of the tournament was the turning point. That innings gave me the confidence,” Pujara was quoted as saying by ‘bcci.tv’.
“Having said that, I would also state that I was batting well in West Indies as well, especially in the second game where I was run out for 46. I was disappointed, but I never let it affect me as I knew that sooner or later, I would get the runs,” he added.
Pujara has not scored a Test hundred since August last year but that doesn’t bother him. “Not really. I am always positive. I always believed that I was batting well though I didn’t score big runs. I spoke to Rahul Dravid and he told me that there wasn’t any technical flaw. He told me it was just about changing the mental aspect of my game,” informed the Saurashtra batsman.
Talking about the New Zealand series, Pujara said the team are focused on regaining the No. 1 ranking.
“It is going to be a challenging series for us against New Zealand. We have the chance to become No.1 again and the aim will be to be on top for a long time,” stated Pujara.
“The first Test against them will be very crucial as we need get the momentum into the series,” Pujara added.
