Cheteshwar Pujara lit up the stage at the RevSportz Trailblazers 3.0 event, on March 6, engaging in an interactive session with Editor-in-Chief, Boria Majumdar. During the conversation, he spoke about the leadership qualities of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He also shared his thoughts on India’s chances during the upcoming England tour, his preparations, his desire to make a comeback, and much more.
Pujara also firmly believed that if he had been a part of the squad for the Test series in Australia, India could have secured a hat-trick of series wins. “Yes, I was very confident. If I was there, then we wanted to make a hat-trick. So I wouldn’t deny that.”
Reflecting on the recent series, he felt India started well but was unfortunate that things did not go their way after the first Test. “The first Test match was really a good one. And probably a little unfortunate that after that, things didn’t go our way.”
Pujara’s ability to bat for long hours against Australia is rooted in his experiences since his debut in 2010. He credited his meticulous preparation for his success, which included rigorous training on turning tracks at home and facing short-pitched deliveries on cement pitches before heading to Australia.
“Before going to Australia, I used to ensure that I played with a cork ball on a cement pitch, where the bowlers used to bowl from 16 to 18 yards.” He specifically mentioned how a friend, Kuldeep Sharma, helped him prepare for Mitchell Starc’s left-arm pace.
With India set to tour England for a crucial Test series, Pujara made it clear that he is ready if called upon for a comeback. “Yes, of course. As a cricketer, you always want to play for the Indian team. And I am doing whatever I can to achieve that success. If the team needs me, I’m definitely ready.”
He remains fully committed to the game, training hard, and performing consistently in domestic and county cricket. “I’ve been playing domestic cricket. I’ve been playing county cricket for the last couple of years. I’ve been scoring heavily in the domestic circuit. So if given an opportunity, yes, I’ll be more than ready to grab it with both hands.”
Assessing India’s chances in England, Pujara was optimistic. “This Indian team definitely has a very good chance. Even if you look at the England bowling lineup, they are slightly weaker after Anderson has retired, and Stuart Broad is not there anymore in the playing XI.”
Discussing Virat Kohli’s role, Pujara had no doubts about his impact on the team. “Definitely, he can. Look at the kind of experience he has, the number of runs he has scored in all three formats.” He acknowledged that every player goes through lean patches but argued that Kohli had earned the right to fail.
Despite playing a key role in India’s historic series wins in Australia in 2018 and 2021, Pujara remains unfazed by young cricketers earning massive sums in the IPL. “Not at all. Look, when I started playing cricket, there was no money. I never started playing this game for money,” he stated.
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He made it clear that he is grateful for having represented India in over 100 Test matches. He stressed that cricket, for him, is purely about passion and love for the sport. He harbours no jealousy towards players earning high IPL contracts, stating that they deserve it due to their hard work. “Times change, and players get paid more. And that is how it should be because we are living in an era where the T20 format is more popular,” he acknowledged. However, he urged young cricketers to prioritise playing for the country before focusing on franchise cricket.
Having played under multiple captains, Pujara shared insights on what makes each of them unique. Speaking about MS Dhoni, under whom he debuted, Pujara admired his calm demeanour and ability to handle pressure. “The quality he possesses is to stay calm under pressure. And he never panics,” Pujara said.
He recalled how Dhoni focused on finding fast bowlers who could consistently bowl over 140 km/h, laying the foundation for India’s future overseas success. Dhoni’s leadership was always about the team, paying close attention to players and support staff, and never making it about himself.
Discussing Virat Kohli’s captaincy, Pujara praised his aggressive approach and determination to win overseas series. “He has been an aggressive captain. He wanted to win series overseas. That is how he started his captaincy,” Pujara recalled.
He noted how Kohli, after losing his first series as captain in Australia in 2015, set the goal of winning away from home. Kohli’s focus on fitness and leadership resulted in historic Test series wins in Australia, along with strong performances in England and South Africa.
Pujara also spoke highly of Rohit Sharma’s leadership, describing him as straightforward and team-oriented. “He stays calm. He does not filter. When he is talking to the players, he will say whatever is in his heart,” he observed.
He also admired Rohit’s fearless batting in ODIs, especially in the first 10 overs, where he prioritises quick starts over personal milestones. According to Pujara, Rohit’s selflessness is one of his biggest strengths. “For him, it is about putting the team first. And that is the biggest quality Rohit has,” he said.
Reflecting on his career, Pujara named India’s Test series wins in Australia in 2018 and 2021 as his greatest moments.
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