Cheteshwar Pujara to draw on County Championship experiences in pink-ball Test

NICK HOWSON: Four spells of domestic cricket and nine Tests in England gives the 33-year-old a solid base of knowledge against the moving ball

India confirm squad for third and fourth Tests

Forget how we got there, the series heads to Ahmedabad perfectly poised

Cheteshwar Pujara will attempt to use experiences stored up following spells in the County Championship against England during next week's pink-ball third Test in Ahemdabad.

The 33-year-old has had spells at Derbyshire, Yorkshire (twice) and Nottinghamshire, and played nine Tests in England.

Pujara is as well-versed as any of India's squad when the ball is moving around, though his Championship average stands at 29.93 across 36 innings. His 500 Test runs in England have meanwhile come at 29.41.

"It is really important," he said on his county experiences. "I have learned so many things playing county cricket and that experience has always helped me in international cricket, whether I am playing in India, Australia or South Africa and England. 

"Whenever the conditions are challenging and the ball is swinging around or it is seaming it is always helpful and that experience has taught me many things. 

"Whether it is the technical aspect, or mental aspect as a batter and talking about this game that experience will be helpful to me. 

"Most of our young players have played cricket overseas and some of the played in the Ranji Trophy where if you're playing in the northern part of India the ball still swings around and there is a little bit of seam movement as well.

"I wouldn't say the guys aren't completely inexperienced but they haven't played a lot of cricket in England I'll have a chat with them. 

"This particular Test match we are not sure how much the ball is going to swing around, it might early on but going forward as the match progresses there might not be a lot of swing. The pink ball is very difficult to predict."

A fifth spell in county cricket beckons for Pujara, with The Daily Telegraph reporting Warwickshire are in discussions to acquire the right-hander for the five-Test England series, which begins in August. A deal with Gloucestershire for last season had to be cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

But it remains to be seen for much of the campaign, which kicks off on April 8, he is available for after Pujara was picked up by Chennai Super Kings for the 14th Indian Premier League.

^{India were dismissed for 36 the last time they took on the pink ball}

Despite having a T20 strike-rate of 109.35 and not played an IPL game for seven years, Pujara plans to make himself available for a large portion of the tournament.

"I'm glad to be part of the IPL. It is good to be back again. I'd like to thank CSK for picking me.

"When I'm talking about county cricket I'l still have enough time before the England Test series, they'll be a window when I can still play some county games but I'll take that call mid-way through the IPL. 

"They'll be enough time to play some county games and we have some practice games before the series begins in August. 

"My focus once this Test series is over will be on the IPL and once that is over I'll think about county games."

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