Be it an optional nets session or an actual match, Cheteshwar Pujara loves to bat against the red ball. In the nets, he has to be dragged out so that others can have a go while in the middle, Pujara does not get out easily. In what can be termed as an aberration, the batsman from Rajkot got out to an innocuous delivery in the first Test after blunting out the new ball and getting his eye in. A half-tracker from Devendra Bishoo, which Pujara would have sent packing to the boundary nine times out of the ten, surprisingly resulted in his wicket as his pull only found the top-edge. “I feel I am batting well without worrying too much about it and at the same time, I realized I played a bad shot in the last Test match when I was looking good. I did the hard work in the first session when the ball was moving. Obviously, I played a bad shot and there are things to learn from that particular game. Overall, the team did well and I am really happy with the way things are going.” Talking about his practice drills, Pujara added, “I just wanted to practice a little more since I didn’t score runs in the first Test match, so that I can get some extra hits. I am the kind of player who likes to work hard whenever there is an option to practice, I prefer to practice. It is always about the individual who wants to take a break or practice.”

With a comprehensive win in the first Test, Pujara said the team will like to build on the momentum going into the second Test at Sabina Park. “The first aim is to win the series and obviously we would like to win all the Test matches. But we will take one Test at a time and we will be focusing on winning this Test. We have a positive environment and all the guys are charged up for this Test.” Currently ranked No.2 in the world behind Australia, Pujara said the eventual goal of the team this season would be to reclaim the top spot on the ICC Test team rankings. We have a simple goal. The target currently starting from the second Test is to win the match, but the goal is to win the series. Going ahead we want to be the no.1 Test team in the world.”