It was difficult to score runs on the Nagpur wicket: Cheteshwar Pujara

Indian Test cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara played a vital knock once again to give hosts the upper hand in the ongoing 2nd Test match against Sri Lanka in Nagpur. India posted 610/6 on the board before declaring their innings on Day 3.  And they managed to strike once before stumps as Sri Lanka finds themselves at 21/1. Pacer Ishant Sharma sent back Sadeera Samarawickrama in the second ball of the first over of the Lankan innings.

Pujara, who scored a majestic 143 off 362 balls, said that it wasn’t easy to bat on this wicket. Apart from Pujara, opener Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma scored hundreds each and skipper Virat Kohli made a double hundred to add to visitor’s agony.

“On this wicket, it was difficult to score runs as it was on the slower side. It wasn’t easy to get boundaries and we had to rotate the strike, whenever we had got some opportunities. Overall, it was a tough pitch, where you might not get out but it was also difficult to score runs,” Pujara told journalists.

Fitness has improved: Pujara

Pujara has the ability to bat for long hours and his appetite for big runs is what makes him an asset in the Indian Test squad. “In the last one and half to two years, I have been working hard on my fitness and luckily there has not been any injuries. I am fully fit and that’s the reason I am able to take quick singles and doubles. While in batting I have not changed anything my fitness has improved a lot. If you want to be on the field on all five days, you need a lot of stamina, your fitness has to be on top.”

Pujara is set for the South African tour

He also spoke about his preparations for the tour to the rainbow nation. Pujara said his previous experience in the land of Proteas and the exposure in county cricket will help him do well.”I have enough experience of playing in South African conditions. I have been there in 2010 and then again in 2013. So experience will definitely help. Preparation ahead of the tour, it also depends on whether Saurashtra qualifies for Ranji Trophy quarter-finals. But at same time, we who are part of Test team will have enough time to prepare for that series,” Pujara explained.