Pujara on winning Test series in Australia: “The best Indian side I have been part of”

Pujara on winning Test series in Australia: The Indian batsman claimed the current Indian team to be the best that he has been part of.

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has undoubtedly been India’s backbone in the recently concluded historic Test series against Australia. Having scored 521 runs in four matches at an average of 74.42 and a strike rate of 41.41, Pujara didn’t let India’s guard down throughout the series.

In which was a hard-fought series, Pujara put on display grit and determination to not just become the highest run-scorer but also etch his name in the history books. It would not be wrong that the four-match series has been his best in the team’s cause till date.

Speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, Pujara admitted that he was pleased with his contribution, picking up the Adelaide hundred as the best of the three centuries which he scored in the series.

“It’s a great feeling for all of us. We’ve been working hard to win a series overseas, and winning in Australia has never been easy. And really pleased with my contribution. For me, the first hundred was special. Scoring a ton at Adelaide and going 1-0 up is what we were aiming for,” Pujara was quoted as saying.

The 30-year old right-hand batsman laid emphasis on preparation being the key for him. Just like his captain Virat Kohli, Pujara also lauded his bowlers for they have been phenomenal throughout the series.

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“As a batsman, I was just getting used to the pace and bounce, and apart from that, playing in South Africa and England has helped me improve my technique. For me, it’s all about preparation and I was very well prepared. This is the best Indian side I have been part of.

“And I would also like to congratulate all our bowlers. We’ve had four bowlers, and it’s not easy taking 20 wickets, so credit goes to all our fast bowlers and spinners,” Pujara said.

While some of the players will stay back to play the three-match ODI series and the subsequent limited-overs tour of New Zealand, Pujara and the other Test specialists will fly back to India. Talking about his future plans, Pujara disclosed that he will play some First-class cricket back home and will continue to play county cricket during the IPL.

“I’ll be playing some first-class cricket back home, and I’ll play some county cricket during the IPL. But the next Test series is some 6-7 months away, it’ll give me some time to prepare. I would like to play white-ball cricket, but Test cricket is my priority, and it always be so,” he concluded.

Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on the India’s historic victory below: