India vs New Zealand: Will Cheteshwar Pujara be ‘a little fearless’ like he was in England? | Cricket News – Times of India

Just when it seemed he was in a sort of bother, Pujara found a way to score runs. But those runs mostly came in a trickle, irrespective of the pitch. However, there was a glimpse of him finding some rhythm in his batting when he scored 91 and 61 in the second innings of the last two Tests he played in England. His famed square cuts and hooks were back in business after a long gap.
Going forward, he hinted that this could be the template. Being fearless is the key, he claimed at the press conference on Tuesday, two days ahead of the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur.
“See when it came to performing, the mindset was a little different but when it comes to technique I don’t think there was a major change in technique. It was just the approach and I was a little fearless (in England) which helps. I feel you do not need to put too much pressure on yourself and should just try and go there and enjoy the game rather than worry too much about what’s happening around you,” Pujara said.

It’s been 34 months since Pujara has scored a Test century. For a No. 3 batter, who has played 90 Tests, that’s a blot. No. 3 generally decides the tempo of a Test innings for the team.
“As far as my hundred is concerned, it will happen when it has to happen. My job is to bat well for the team and it’s not that I haven’t been getting runs. I have got 80s and 90s. As long as I am batting well and contributing for the team, I am not bothered about my hundred. It’s matter of just one innings,” he claimed Not just Pujara.
Ajinkya Rahane, captain for the first Test, is also under immense pressure to come up with defining performances. Pujara came to the defence for Rahane too. “He is a great player but there are times when a player goes through a tough time. He is a confident player, one who works very hard on his game and I am very sure he is just one innings away from a big score. Once he gets a big hundred, he will back in form. He has been working hard in the nets,” he said.