Cheteshwar Pujara backs Virat Kohli, says mind games won't work with the current Indian team

Team India middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara who scored a marathon double century in the 3rd Test at Ranchi has made it pretty clear that the mind games thrown at them by the Australian team and their support staffs won’t affect them ahead of the deciding clash at Dharamsala starting from 25th March. The Australian team hasn’t wasted an opportunity to come hard at Kohli with the latest being CEO James Sutherland who said that Kohli perhaps doesn’t know to spell the word sorry.

Captain Steve Smith and the rest of the team has continuously attacked the Indian captain for his verbal volleys on Smith following the Dressing room controversy during the 2nd Test in Bengaluru. The off-field turmoil hasn’t relented since the 2nd Test and it has reached it’s boiling point as of now. While interacting with the media Pujara said it was pretty sad to hear such comments but their sole focus will be on the final Test in Dharamsala starting in a couple of days time.

“It is really sad to hear such comments. We fully support Virat Kohli and he is one of the great ambassadors of the game. I think the focus has shifted somewhere else which shouldn’t have happened. We are very much focused on the game and he is a great leader. We are looking forward to the next game rather than worrying about anything else,” Pujara said.

During the 2nd Test in Bangalore, Kohli accused Steve Smith of cheating during the press conference after the match. Though he didn’t mention the word but said that what he and the Australian did falls under that bracket. Ever since then the Australian media has lashed out at Kohli accusing him of hurling a bottle towards and Aussie official before comparing him to US President Donald Trump.

With the focus shifted somewhere else, it remains to be seen how both the teams cope up for the final Test in Dharamsala. It will be a huge opportunity for Australia to win a series on Indian soil after 13 years while India would look to carry on their rich vein of form in their home season and remain undefeated.