THE BIG INTERVIEW The Pujara Diaries Share Tweet

"When I started playing cricket, no one in the state believed that any one from the state can play for the Indian team. That was the kind of mind-set everyone had." ©Cricbuzz

There are positives and negatives about it (coming from a cricketing family). I was lucky that my father played this game, so he knew the technical side of it. At the same time, since he understands the game, he will criticise and say 'this is right and this is wrong'.

Most of the times, you end up discussing the game, and if you want to discuss something else, you don't have enough time. Sometimes that happens because if you're from a cricketing family, the discussions at home are most of the times about cricket. Sometimes, you want to have those chats, but sometimes you don't want to. You don't have a choice.

It was (the toughest moment when my mother passed away). When I was 17, she passed away. I never thought I would lose her because at that time I didn't know she had cancer. I didn't know that it is a life-threatening disease. Initially, it was really tough, but once I got involved in the game, my attention was more on the game. I had a goal that I had to achieve.

It was (devastating for my father). I was always away from home, so my father was most of the times alone and it was really difficult. He was still coaching the kids, but still, when you are not travelling, when you are free, you tend to remember your close ones. (It was) more difficult for him than me.

Things haven't changed much as far as my cricket is concerned. My wife is very supportive. Now she understands the game much better. Before marriage, she didn't know much about cricket, but now she knows the game very well. She has started understanding the technical aspects of the game. Sometimes, it is difficult because if she understands then you always end up talking about the game. Then she asks a lot of questions like why you won or you lost. When you don't have much knowledge of the game, you just watch. But, now we discuss the game also.

She knows what is the importance of professional cricket and being a celebrity, there are so many things to take care of. She understands and supports me really well.

If I'm lazy or not working on my game or trying to avoid something, she will tell me, 'look you're sulking at home'. Obviously, they expect you to spend some time with them. She understands that if I can't talk to her, if I'm committed to something or if there are some matches, she understands that this is my life and it's part of it. That way she is very supportive.

I am still the same. You feel your life is complete when you have a partner to share your good and bad memories with. In cricket, you have failure and success, but if someone is there for you to share your feelings then it becomes much easier.

She has understood that part (frustrations) very well. In our house, we have an environment which is very pleasant. My wife is very talkative. I am very quiet. Whenever she is around, she keeps the atmosphere very relaxed. She is a fun-loving girl. If she is talking, the atmosphere is always light, but when I am sitting and talking with my father, it is always very professional.

I am a serious kind of person. We complement each other. More than me, she is the one who has been taking care of my father regularly - making sure he is taking medicines. My wife is always after him as he has undergone bypass surgery. He has to take medicines and needs to know what he is taking. When he is not eating well, my wife tells him.

Basically, I started off when I was eight years old. I used to play cricket on the streets with the other kids. Then my father thought that it would be better if I go to a proper cricket ground and start learning this game if I am really interested. When I was eight years old, he took me to a cricket ground. I was playing at the Railway ground. He himself has played first-class cricket, so he knew what the game is all about.

I started attending coaching camps when I was eight. After that, I practised for somewhere around three-four years, and when I was 12, I got my first break in the state team. In the first game, I scored a triple hundred against Baroda. That's when I thought I'll become a professional cricketer. That's how it all started.

The first step was the under-14s. After the triple hundred, I was picked for the under-16s and then I went on to keep playing. After that, I played the under-16s and the under-19s for the state.

When I started playing cricket, my family never thought I would become a cricketer. I chose to become a cricketer. I was very good at studies initially, till probably say class seven, I was the class topper. But obviously, after that, my focus changed to cricket. So, I couldn't focus much on studies.I had both the options open. If I had to choose studies and become 'something', I don't know what I would've been, but I would've been something. There was no pressure from the family.

Apart from cricket? (I was) not really interested in studies. When I was a kid and I was studying, I never thought about becoming something, or if I have to focus on one particular subject. When a kid, you just grow up naturally, you don't think much about anything. Even if you want to, you can't think. Basically, I wasn't interested in anything else. I was like a normal kid, I used to study and I used to enjoy playing all the games - not just cricket. During my school days, I used to play all the games possible - Badminton, Table Tennis and even Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, etc.

At that time, I used to love watching Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Those three were at their peak while I was growing up and used to score many runs for the Indian team. I used to like them.

The main reason is, the kind of captain Ganguly was at that time, and his mindset and his mental toughness - the way he raised the Indian team. I still remember the NatWest series in which India chased down 320, which was almost impossible at that time. Those sort of victories and the kind of aggression he had, I liked that.

Obviously, with Sachin Tendulkar, I mean, everyone likes him. There's hardly anyone who won't like him. I was also one of the guys who loved watching him play. Rahul Dravid was the one who was technically correct. When he used to bat, you hardly felt that he'll get out. The bowlers used to get frustrated and they knew that if he's 'in' they'll be in trouble. If you wanted to look at the right technique, he was the one.

The theatre guys here arrange a separate entrance from which I go. As soon as the movie gets over, I just get up and walk out. The theatre guys here arrange a separate entrance from which I go. As soon as the movie gets over, I just get up and walk out. ***

Initially, it was a compliment, comparing myself with such a great cricketer (Dravid). Over a period of time, I have realised that if I am batting at No. 3, I have to stick to my strengths, which are very similar to Rahul Dravid. I have learnt many things by interacting with him. When I was out of form before the Sri Lanka series and was playing for India A, he was the coach and was very helpful. The comparison should not keep on going. He has 10,000 runs in both formats and I have just started. There is a lot of time to go. I don't believe in comparison because he played in a different era and now the mindsets are completely different.

When it comes to Test cricket, I would still say that the strike-rate hardly matters as long as you are helping the team win. If you win a Test in three days or four days or five days, it doesn't matter.

I didn't try and copy him, but naturally it happened. I'm trying to become technically perfect. I never tried to copy him but I would agree that I gained a lot of tips and advice from Rahul bhai. I have tried my own technique.

I love Rajkot because overall there is not much traffic. One end to another end (in) max 45 minutes. If I have to practice twice a day, I can come and go home, and come. Such advantages are not there in big cities.

Schooling, everything was here. I don't have many friends outside of cricket. I am travelling for cricket almost through the year. I am still doing my BBA and have not been to college. At the max, I spend two or three months in Rajkot in a year. I don't get time to socialise.

When I was playing under-14 and 16, I realised that I have to sacrifice many things. I never got much time to celebrate festivals and occasions with friends and family. That was the part of the game. As I progressed, I realised that it will be even tougher.

Since I belonged to a small state - Saurashtra is a small state as far as cricket is concerned - when I used to score runs in under-age cricket, I wasn't getting noticed. I wasn't picked in the under-15 or the under-17 Indian team. When you want to play professionally, your aim is to play for the country. I wasn't very sure about that (since I wasn't getting picked) so, that's what motivated me a little more. But, the main obstacle was to practice on turf wickets. I grew up practising on concrete pitches.

Ultimately, the way I used to perform at the junior level, finally I got my chance to play against England at the under-19 level. Even in that game, I scored a double hundred. After that, I got into the limelight. I was picked for the Under-19 World Cup, everything then started falling in place.

When I started playing cricket, no one in the state believed that any one from the state can play for the Indian team. That was the kind of mind-set everyone had. The moment I was picked in the Indian side, and I was Man of the Series, then people started believing that if someone can make it to the under-19 stage, then this guy has some potential. And there is a chance that he will make it all the way.

After that, I was picked in the Ranji Trophy team. I performed well in the second game, I scored a hundred in my second Ranji match. But even after that, it took me a long time to make it to the Indian team, because we had greats like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman in the line-up.

I was expecting the call long back. The kind of runs I was scoring at the domestic level, I knew that one day I will make it to the Indian team. Finally, it came in 2010. I don't know whether I knew if that was the series I would be picked in, but it was there at the back of my mind.

In the first Test, I wasn't part of the playing XI. And I think it was the second match that I was picked. Even then, I wasn't sure I would be picked. It was around 8:45 in the morning (that I got to know I will play), because Laxman bhai was injured.

Initially, I was nervous but I was confident that I belonged here, since I'd done well in the domestic level. After the first innings, I was disappointed at getting out, the ball kept very low and I was very unfortunate to get out, but things went well in the second innings. I got an opportunity to bat at No. 3.

In the second innings, the Indian team was under a little bit of pressure. It was not a big total to chase, but the wicket was tricky. We had some inexperience in our team, myself and Raina hadn't played many Tests, so to get the balance right, I was promoted up the order, to have players like Rahul Dravid bat lower down and add experience.

I played according to the situation. They tried attacking me, so there were more gaps for me to pick. They thought that if they took my wicket and a couple of others, they had a very good chance and there would be more pressure on the Indian team. So I had more gaps to play my shots in, and I thought, I was in good form and I was playing my natural game, I didn't try and do anything extra.

See, in 2006 no one told me I am only capable of playing Test cricket. I was Man of the Series in the Under-19 World Cup which was the 50-over format. Overall, whatever matches I played at the domestic level, I performed exceptionally well. In 50-over cricket and T20s, I was very good at it.

I think the perception started after I made my Test debut and since I started scoring more runs in the Test format. I started playing more four-day games, people started thinking that 'this guy is only suited for Tests'. But if I get an opportunity to play in the ODIs, obviously I am capable. My domestic record shows it. If I can score these many runs at a decent strike-rate in domestic and India A matches, which I have already proved, I can finally make the national team.

It's always there (in my mind). Once someone has a particular perception about your game and your ability, you are always under some pressure. I don't think I need to prove it to anyone, because once I get my opportunity, the way I have performed and the people who have watched me perform well, they know I'm capable and they have appreciated me. In the same fashion, once I start scoring runs at the international level, people will watch and realise that 'no, this guy has that talent and he can score runs in the one-day format. He has his shots and can accelerate'.

I keep saying that this is just a perception, and with time it will go away.

Initially, when the IPL auctions happened, I was a bit disappointed that I was not a part of IPL as I had worked very hard on my game and had a very good Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. So, I thought that I had some chance. But, I didn't get the opportunity.

The best thing is whatever work I have done to adapt to one-day and T20 format has paid off. I played some club matches for Indian Oil in the Goa corporate league. We played the semifinal and final against Reliance where most of the Mumbai Indians players play. And, I did well. In another game against Air India, I scored a 100 - big achievement in T20 cricket. Hopefully, in the near future whenever I get my opportunity, I will be able to prove myself.

The toughest phase (of my career) was during my knee injury. The first knee injury that happened before the Test debut. That was the most challenging part of my life.

I had to overcome many challenges. First of all, to get the surgery done and then get back on the field and start running again. To have the same flow with which I had played in the past. To get the rhythm back is not easy. When you're out and haven't even touched your bat for six months, that was really challenging for me.

But the good thing was, I was always hard-working and I always knew what I had to do to get back on to the field. The best thing was I had a very good family, my father supported me. All the family members, my paternal and maternal aunts, all of them were home and supported me very well when I wasn't well. I could spend a lot of time with them, I used to get positive energy from them. Although I wasn't playing cricket, I knew I would come back strong.

Initially, it was very difficult (when there was a relapse). I used to get many negative thoughts. 'Will the surgery go well? Will I be able to run again?'

I spoke to the doctors and they told me the injury is very common in footballers. I had ACL reconstruction, which is very common in footballers. So this was not something that was threatening my career and that helped me get back to being positive. After that doctors told me that from next week onwards you can start walking with crutches and then a couple of weeks later, on your own. You have to start your rehab.

After the surgery, my focus was back on. Once I was in the rehab phase, I knew that after four months, I could start running and sprinting soon after.

I had a goal. I had a timeline to be back on the field. The doctors had set the deadline for me and told me I can recover faster if I work hard. It usually takes six months, but I was able to recover in five and a half months.

When you play your first game after injury, it doesn't feel natural, but as you keep playing, you start getting into rhythm. Now, I don't even get to know that I had injuries and surgeries in the past. I have worked so much on my fitness, I'm very normal now. I also participated in a half marathon in Rajkot.

When it comes to fitness, I can't even remember my injuries now. That part is over now. The main thing is once you're coming back to play, you play as many matches as you can and once you start scoring, you feel you are back and you are yourself.

I'll start from why we started this (academy). The main reason is to have proper infrastructure and facility at the grassroots level. The players who can't afford this game, players or people who want to have a cricket career, they should not suffer because of the lack of infrastructure, especially in the smaller cities.

If you look at the game in the country, the players who played for the country come from a middle-class or lower-middle-class family. They have to go for camps which charge money and they also have to buy gear. It becomes very tough for them. So the basic thing was to provide them with proper facilities and infrastructure, where they can come and just worry about the game.

Another factor is also that they get proper match practice and know what turf wickets are all about. If they keep practising on concrete pitches, it is not the right experience.

Somewhere around 3-4 years ago, my father had this idea. His motive is always to do this thing without charging money. He has been doing since his days in Railways. And I felt it was the right thing. We had a small place which we used for practice. Then we realised in a smaller area we can't do fielding and can't have proper practice, so my father thought we should have a proper ground.

It took somewhere around two three years to get everything in place. It's still a work in progress, but we have already started. The pitches are in place and we have started playing games. But still, you need to build more, you need to have more facilities. The basic things required are already in place.

When I'm at home I usually practice over there. Whenever I am in town I go there, and once or before my practice, if I notice something I'll go and talk to the players. But most of the times, my father, he's very good at coaching rather than me. My father is always there, he takes care of the coaching part.

Sometimes, they want to know my experiences and they need to know the real experience, like what kind of feeling one should have when walking out to play or how to handle nervousness, how to play on turning tracks or seaming pitches, what the approach should be. Those kinds of aspects I speak to them. I will then leave it to them, it's ultimately their career, and I can't keep forcing them to do something. If they are good enough and listen to what is being said, then they work on it.

What I used to do ten years back, kids of today can't obviously do the same thing. Nowadays, international cricket is more dominated by T20 and ODI format. Younger kids have to learn the basics, but they can't play classical cricket all the time. They have to learn to adapt to all formats at the junior level. The methods have changed. My father and I have realised. It is not a major change as kids have to first learn the basics, but after that there are minor changes. Earlier, you played only classical cricket, down the ground. But, now you have to play lofted shots. It's important to have the right balance now.

If you want to go and talk to Sachin Tendulkar about what is right or wrong, everyone might not be comfortable. In the sense you cannot go and tell Sachin Tendulkar this is wrong If you want to go and talk to Sachin Tendulkar about what is right or wrong, everyone might not be comfortable. In the sense you cannot go and tell Sachin Tendulkar this is wrong ***

We are not earning but spending a lot of money. If you look at that part, it's difficult but at present, I am earning enough to contribute, to run this place. If he is passionate about coaching and young guys are benefiting from it, I don't mind sacrificing some money for it.

And, there are some senior players who are taking some responsibility of some under-19 kids. Aarpit Vasavada, Kuldeep Sharma, past India under-19 players, also practice here. They support the young kids. A first-class cricketer has always something to say to the youngsters.

I like to watch movies. In my free time, I go to a theatre or watch it on the laptop or iPad. The guys here arrange a separate entrance from which I go. As soon as the movie gets over, I just get up and walk out.

I do (get mobbed), but I try and avoid places where I know I will get mobbed. Sometimes, when I am around if there are five-ten people coming and asking for photograph then I oblige. But, if there are too many people around, I have to be careful and move out of the place because if there are 50 people I can't please everyone. I try and avoid going to such places.

It is an issue with all Indian cricketers with respect to privacy, especially at home. But, if you are a cricketer you are going to be mobbed, in India especially, they love the game so much. You have to accept it. People love this game, that is why they are big fans of cricketers. As a cricketer, I try and respect their passion and love for the game. They make cricketers famous, but sometimes when they don't understand the cricketer, it is bit frustrating.

If I am at an airport and ten people want a photograph, I can't please everyone because then I will miss my flight. That if they don't understand, it is bit difficult. If I am free, I don't mind obliging.

I never wanted to be famous. I always wanted to live life normally. I was never behind fame. I tried avoiding it, but if you are a cricketer, you will ultimately become a famous person.

Even at home, I don't talk much. I wouldn't say I won't talk at all, I'll definitely open up a little more with my family and friends. I will still be the kind of a guy who doesn't speak too many things. That is my nature. I'm not reserved, I'm trying to learn to be a little more talkative because when you go out people want to hear you out and know you thoughts and experience. It's always good to share your thoughts and experiences.

I am not trying to change my nature, but I'm trying to be a little more talkative.

Most of the times (outside of cricket), I'm with my family and friends. I'm hardly at home. Probably around eight months every year, I'm travelling. I'm at home for maximum four months a year, and that too, not at a stretch. I try and spend time with my family.

I have to stay connected (with the game during my off days). I don't have a choice (to switch off). If you look at the cricketing season, there is no off-season for us. You always have to be connected. Even if I'm at home, I can't completely switch off from cricket because once in a while I have to go and practice. If I'm taking a break, it's maximum for two or three days, after that I have to start my routine and my practice. I have to keep tabs on my fitness.

When I play for the Indian team, I have a simple motto - the most important thing is winning matches. Apart from that, whatever I can contribute to the team's success. Sometimes, I have to open the innings, and I was flexible enough to do that. Usually, I bat at No. 3 - that is where I am more comfortable.

When it comes to the young Test team, everyone has the same wavelength where you can share your experience and talk about the positives and negatives. What is going on, which is right and what to improve further. That communication part is really good. There are some senior players, but the age difference is not much.

If you want to go and talk to Sachin Tendulkar about what is right or wrong, everyone might not be comfortable. In the sense you cannot go and tell Sachin Tendulkar this is wrong. This is what I am trying to tell. When he was around, you obviously knew that he knows everything about the game and he is the one to whom you can go and talk when you have some problem. When it comes to the team, I think when you have more communication when the age difference is less it becomes easier. That is what is happening now.

We try and spend as much time as possible together when we are outside India. We are sitting at the team room or by the pool side and chatting. Obviously, we all know each other well having played for India A together, but there are still a lot of new cricketers whose game and culture you want to know depending on which state they are from. That makes it easier communication-wise.

I always look at the cricketing part rather than seeing (my teammates') personal life or fame. Virat (Kohli), Shikhar (Dhawan) they all have personal lives. You don't want to get into what money or fame they are earning. I am so much into cricket that you can observe and learn so much from their games. I limit it to that.

When you interact, you discuss everything, but when I am seeing from a distance, I just stick to the cricketing part. The kind of work ethics Virat has, the kind of preparation he has before the game, the fitness and fielding, there are so many things. The kind of time he spends in the nets, the kind of work he does in the gym and on the field to improve his fielding.

We have had some good partnerships. I like spending time with him because he is very active and always observing what the bowler is doing. We always discuss strategies. He always comes to me and says 'this is what I have done and it has helped me. If you want, you can try it out'.

Main thing is to win the series which we play. To win that West Indies series and each and every match. India are playing 17 matches. We were at No. 1 and to gain it back and be there for a long period of time. We have a very good chance to be No. 1 in the world again.

We will be competing against good sides, we will have to be on top of our game and it won't be easy with the number of matches in such short time. You can't afford to be out of form. You don't have an extra edge, you don't have time in between to recover. You have to be at the top of your game always.

I believe in staying in the present. Just to perform, basically. I don't want to say that I want to score these many hundreds, but I'll work on my game and I'll try and improve. When I'm back, the kind of responsibility I have with team India, I live up to it and maybe try and better it.

I've started bowling in the nets and I'm paying enough attention to my fitness. Obviously, to improve and get better at my ODIs and T20s. I performed well in the Syed Mustaq Ali. I was in the top run-getters. Things are coming along well, so I hope to continue that and in time I'll get my opportunities.

I always wanted to become a cricketer. Apart from that, I never had any other goals in life. But over a period of time, I have realised that as a citizen of the country, I have to do some social service. We are already contributing through the academy. In the future, I will be happy to contribute on other platforms also and I will take that call when I retire.

Pujara with his wife Puja. ©Reuters

©Reuters

©Reuters

©Reuters

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