India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara says runs in Duleep Trophy have given him a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the Test series against New Zealand starting on Thursday in Kanpur
Cheteshwar Pujara
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Kanpur: India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara says runs in Duleep Trophy have given him a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the Test series against New Zealand starting on Thursday in Kanpur.
Pujara did not have a great run in the West Indies tour last month and even missed out from the playing XI in the third Test.
"The Duleep Trophy double century was a sort of an innings that I needed before the start of a Test series. Actually, the 166 that I scored in my first game of the tournament was the turning point. That innings brought in me the confidence," Pujara was quoted as saying by bcci.tv.
"Having said that, I feel I was batting well in West Indies as well, especially in the second game where I scored 46 runs and got run out the moment I was about to accelerate. I did get disappointed but I never let my confidence down.
I knew it was just a matter of time. I am in a positive frame of mind after the Duleep Trophy. Those runs will definitely help me in the upcoming series against New Zealand. I don't think I need to worry much about my batting now," said the 28-year-old.
Pujara has not scored a Test hundred since August last year but that doesn't bother him.
"I always believed that I was batting well though I didn't score big runs. I spoke to Rahul Dravid and he told me that there wasn't any technical flaw. He told me it was just about changing the mental aspect of my game. I told myself that it was just a matter of time before I played a big innings and things would get back on track."
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