Chintu eyes big stride

Stylish right-hander says hes confident of success abroad.

In many eyes,he is the future. The man who will shoulder the responsibility of rewriting India’s disparate and often dreadful record overseas. The one who looks perfectly suited to fill in the huge boots of Rahul Dravid once he decides to hang up his boots. A technician to the core,but not one to shy away from a fight. And if it wasn’t for a knee injury that he suffered while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore during IPL-IV,Cheteshwar Pujara would ideally have been in Australia rather that in the city representing Saurashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. But that’s sport,and the 24-year-old stylish right-hander believes in looking ahead rather than letting any regrets cloud him now. And though he is happy to focus all his energies on scoring runs in the bucketfuls in his characteristic fashion,Pujara is confident of doing well whenever his chance comes next,including in overseas conditions as he feels he has the requisite experience of playing abroad.

I have had enough exposure playing in South Africa and have toured with the ‘A’ team to UK. Therefore,I believe that I have enough experience to perform in overseas conditions, he said.

Once you experience [those conditions,then you can make a few changes to your technique, he said. Once you face those conditions,then you know what to do. Pujara,who recently returned to domestic cricket after a long lay-off due to a knee injury,said his main aim was now to score runs in the domestic circuit to reclaim his place in the Indian squad post his memorable Test debut in October 2010,against Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

I want to make it to the Indian team. I want to do well in the domestic matches and score runs. I will try hard to make it back to the Test team,as it is my dream. I want to play for as long as Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar,” he added on the sidelines of a promotional event on Monday.

The Saurashtra skipper,who has represented India in three Tests scoring 107 runs,has been a prolific scorer over the last few seasons in first-class cricket in which he has over 4,300 runs and a triple ton to his name.

Commenting on India’s poor performance in the tri-series in Australia,Pujara said the team has done well in the ODIs in the past and that he is confident of a good show in the next month’s Asia Cup.

I’m very positive about the Indian team. We have won the World Cup and we are the best ODI side in the world. With the Asia Cup coming up,I am confident of a good show, he added.

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Asked about the clamour over the demand for the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar from one-day internationals,Pujara said the batting maestro is a legend of the game and the decision should be left on his will and wish.

He is a legend while I’m a youngster. It’s not appropriate that I comment on him. The longer he is in the team,the better it is for the country. The decision of retirement should rest solely on him, he said.

The right-handed batsman first came to the fore during the 2006 Under-19 World Cup where he was the highest run-getter and aggregated 349 runs at an average of 116. Then came the triple-ton glut at various levels and now repeating those feats on the international stage is what Pujara seeks next.

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Chintu eyes big stride

Stylish right-hander says hes confident of success abroad.

Stylish right-hander says hes confident of success abroad.