Having proved his talent and temperament in Test cricket, middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is keen on making his one-day debut.
“I will get my chances soon,” said the 25-year-old Saurashtra batsman at a function here on Monday night. “I am working on being a good one-day and Twenty20 player.
“I began well in Test cricket and if I continue the way I am playing Tests, I’ll get my chances in the ODI format too. I just need to wait for my opportunity and I know the time will soon come,” Pujara said.
Comparisons to former India skipper Rahul Dravid are inevitable when one mentions Pujara, and the youngster says it acts as a “motivation” for him. “It’s a big compliment for me (comparison with Dravid) because someone who has been successful in Indian cricket and has been called the Wall of Indian cricket, if you are compared with that person, it’s a morale-booster and increases my confidence,” he said.
“Dravid is one of my childhood idols. I try and learn as many things as possible from him. Unfortunately, he has retired now but whenever I had the opportunity to play alongside Dravid, I always enjoyed it. The way he used to guide me was always motivating,” said Pujara, who averages 65 in the 13 Tests played so far. He has scored four centuries, including two double hundreds, and three half-centuries.
Asked about India’s tour to South Africa later this year, Pujara said if picked “it would be a big test of his batting”. “I know what to expect from the Proteas team and the wickets there since I have toured the country in the past.
“When Gary Kirsten was our coach, we had a decent South Africa tour where we tied the Test series. I hope we will be able to win the series this time.”
Asked about the IPL spot-fixing scandal that rocked Indian cricket, he said, “It was disappointing for all the cricketers. I don’t know whether it was done or not but I believe all other cricketers will be questioned because of a few individuals.”