I’ve changed my intent: Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara doesn’t like to set targets. He doesn’t even have a target for his 50thTest. Thinking too far ahead doesn’t help, he feels.

Pujara’s motivation is simply to keep improving. And in keeping with that the India No 3 batsman says he has decided to show more intent by adding to his range of strokes.

“I have been batting well, and the one thing I have changed is my intent. I would also like to add a few more shots in my batting. I have already started working on it. Playing different formats is something I would like to do. The way I am batting now, I am very confident I can add a few more shots which will help me play different formats,” said Pujara, for whom the next Test in Colombo from August 3 will be his 50th.

“I would just like to take one Test at a time, I mean one innings at a time. So, when I’m moving into my 50th Test, I don’t think I should be emotional about it.”

The Sinhalese Sports Club venue holds special significance in his career. Desperate for a comeback, Pujara was roped in as makeshift opener due to injuries on the 2015 tour and he hit a match-winning 145 not out, carrying his bat. He hasn’t looked back since. “When I got a hundred in Sri Lanka, everything changed,” declared Pujara.

Asked what support he got from his captain and then coach (Ravi Shastri) “There was time when, as I said, I didn’t score many runs. But everyone was confident enough that I’ll make a comeback. When I played my comeback Test, many players, after I scored runs, came and said ‘we knew that you will score these runs’. I was really happy to hear that and overall we have a very nice environment.”