File photo of Chateshwar Pujara (Image: ICC)
Leicester: India star batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said his first-class standings in the Ranji Trophy and County Championships helped him find the rhythm he had lost and return to the national team.
Pujara, 34, was left out of India’s own Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year and returned to the national team after scoring an excellent average of 720 in the fifth Test against England. 120 to Sussex.
In the Ranji Trophy, Pujara scored 91 off 83 balls against Mumbai, scoring four centuries, including two double centuries for Sussex in the Division Two County Championship.
“It’s about playing as many first-class games as possible, and that experience is very important to me. When you want to get back to form, when you want to find your rhythm, when that concentration is there, it’s important to play some long innings,” Pujara told BCCI TV. .
“So, when I was playing for Sussex, I was able to do that. When I encountered my first big game against Derby, I felt my rhythm return, my concentration and everything fell into place. Yes, I had a very good time with Sussex, ”he added.
Pujara said he is confident that he will perform better in the county matches as he is already in good form at the Ranji Trophy.
“I played three matches for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. I found my rhythm there too and I know I am batting well, ”said Pujara. “It’s about getting a big score, so when I got it in my first game, I knew everything was back to normal now. (I) found my foot work and then the lift was coming in well.
Pujara, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Bandh and fast bowlers Jaspreet Bhumira and Prasidh Krishna will represent Leicestershire in a four-day training match starting on Thursday.
India face England in the rescheduled fifth Test starting on July 1 at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.
Read more: Bandh, Pujara, Bumra to play for Leicestershire against India in warm-up match
.
