Cheteshwar Pujara and family train youngsters at academy for free-of-cost

India's Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, his father Arvind Pujara and uncle Bipin have started the Cheteshwar Pujara Cricket Academy, some 16 km away from Rajkot city, and are training youngsters free of cost

Saurashtra middle-order batsman Arpit Vasavada (centre, in tracksuit) guides the youngsters during a warm-up session at Cheteshwar Pujara Cricket Academy in Rajkot as Bipin Pujara (extreme right) looks on 

Rajkot: India's Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, his father Arvind Pujara and uncle Bipin, both former first-class cricketers, have taken 'giving back to the game' to a genuine level altogether. The trio have started the Cheteshwar Pujara Cricket Academy, some 16 km away from Rajkot city, and are training youngsters free of cost. Not only that, they also have a vehicle for the trainees to commute to and fro twice a day - again, free of cost.

Cheteshwar and father Arvind Pujara watch a trainee perfect the forward defensive stroke at their academy. Pic/Bipin Tankaria

The academy has all basic facilities in place - five turf pitches at the centre of the facility which affords a 70-yard boundary. Apart from those five tracks, there are four turf and two cement pitches at one corner for specific net practice. A bowling machine and gym equipment are also part of the academy.

Nearly four years ago, the father-son duo decided to do something for the betterment of needy cricketers. Hence, they bought a six-acre piece of land on the Rajkot-Jamnagar highway. Today, around 30 youngsters from Bhuj and surrounding areas, in addition to a few from Uttaranchal and other states, are undergoing training under the watchful eyes of Arvind and Bipin Pujara. Cheteshwar doesn't miss out on an opportunity to drop in when not on India duty.

Focus on under-19s
"Our mission is very simple - we want to impart the best training to each and every player. If these players work hard, there is no reason why they will not be prepared for the under-19 level. We want to produce cricketers for Saurashtra and you never know, there could be a few which can serve others states as well," said Cheteshwar. "Three current Saurashtra Ranji Trophy players practise here and it is a huge motivational and inspirational factor for these young trainees. If someone from this group goes on to play for the state or country, it will be a big achievement for us," the India No. 3 batsman added.

Arvind spoke about how he had to change tracks as it were. "I used to coach youngsters at the Railway ground in Rajkot free of cost, but had to give that up after my retirement (from the Railways). Hence, we decided to purchase this plot of land and develop it to groom budding cricketers," said Arvind, who played six first-class games for Saurashtra from 1976 to 1980. Younger brother Bipin played 36 first-class matches and toured West Indies in 1981-82 as part of an India under-19 team as a wicketkeeper-batsman.

Match tune-up important
"We need such infrastructure in a small city like Rajkot where facilities are less. There are many upcoming players who never get to practise on turf wickets and prepare on concrete or mating wickets, so they don't learn proper technique. They also don't get enough match practice because there are no grounds. Match practice is most important in shaping an upcoming cricketer and for that you have to have grounds with turf wickets," said Cheteshwar. Even Saurashtra Ranji Trophy players don't get enough pre-match practice due to lack of playing facilities. "I have seen cricketers play very well in the nets and play far differently in a match. This is because they don't have enough practice on turf wickets. That's why we wanted to have an academy where you have the ground as well as turf pitches," he stressed.

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