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SPORTS AUGUST 26, 2022 | The Indian Eye 48

VVS Laxman (ANI) Cheteshwar Pujara bats in England (ANI)

CHETESHWAR PUJARA
preparing for the Asia Cup 2022. COMPLETES 5,000 RUNS IN
“What happened in England was LIST A CRICKET
a pattern, so something that I could
work on and something that I had to ndian batter Cheteshwar Pujara
kind of overcome. Right now, as you has completed 5,000 List A crick-
rightly mentioned, there is nothing Iet runs.
that you can point out saying that the India’s Test veteran accom-
problem is happening here. So, that plished this landmark during his
for me, is an easier thing to process side’s One Day Cup match against
because I know that I’m batting well Middlesex at Hove on Tuesday. Pu-
and at times, when I start feeling jara unleashed a rare side of him
that rhythm back, then I know that during his side Sussex’s match against
I’m batting well,” Virat said on Star Middlesex, smashing 132 runs in just
Sports show ‘Game Plan.’ 90 balls with 20 fours and two sixes.
“So, that for me is not an issue, He was striking runs at a great strike
which wasn’t the case in England; I rate of 146.66.
didn’t feel like I was batting well at With this century, Pujara has
all. So, I had to work hard on one an overall List A record (which also
thing that could be exposed again includes limited overs games other
and again which I overcame; right than international matches as well,
now this is not the case,” he added. Mayank Agarwal plays a shot (ANI) plus ODIs) is 5,059 runs in 111 games
Kohli further spoke about how across 109 innings at an average of
important this past phase has been NOT GOING TO GIVE UP: work I put in is paying off now,” he 57.48. His best score in this format is
for his career and how it has improved MAYANK AGARWAL added. 174. Pujara has scored 14 centuries
his outlook on his game and life. “Getting two hundreds in a T20 and 31 half-centuries in this format.
“I know where my game stands ndian batter Mayank Agarwal, tournament like the Maharaja Tro- England’s Graham Gooch
and you cannot run this far in your who had a disappointing run in phy feels amazing. It feels really nice (22,211) and Graeme Hick (22,059),
international career without having IIndian Premier League 2022 with when the players respond to you the India’s Sachin Tendulkar (21,999),
the ability to counter situations and the bat while leading Punjab Kings, way you want. Obviously runs behind Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakara
counter conditions and counter dif- has been working on his white ball my back really makes me feel good (19,456) and West Indies great Vivi-
ferent kinds of bowling. So, this for format performance by “opening up and then I can lead from the front,” an Richards (16,995) are the top-five
me, is an easier phase to process, but four-five areas”. said the right-handed batter. run-scorers in List A cricket.
I don’t want to put this phase behind Three years on, he has been Agarwal faced 287 deliveries in Notably, Pujara has been an
me. I want to learn from it and I want pushed down the batting order in the Maharaja T20 Trophy, he has amazing form for his county side.
to understand what are the core val- Tests as well as ODIs, and he is yet smashed as many as 50 fours and 20 In the One Day Cup so far, Puja-
ues that I have, as a sportsperson and to get a T20I cap. But the 31-year- sixes and brought up centuries off 48 ra has smashed 614 runs in eight in-
as a human being,” he said. old is determined to keep pushing and 58 balls. nings at an average of 102.33. Three
“As long as I’m ticking those box- and make a comeback for Men in “I am somebody who isn’t going centuries and two half-centuries have
es, I know there are ups and downs, Blue. “In the last four months, I’ve to give up,” Agarwal said about his come out of his bat. His best score is
and when I come out of this phase, really worked hard on my batting. international future. 174, which he hit against Surrey. It
I know how consistent I can be. My As you can see, I’ve started sweeping “I am going to keep chasing it is also the highest score by a Sussex
experiences are sacred to me. What- and reverse-sweeping the ball, that and improve my game with each player in List A cricket.
ever I have experienced in this phase too against the fast bowlers,” ES- passing day. I will be very happy with The batter is the second highest
or in the past, as well one thing that PNcricinfo quoted Agarwal as saying. whatever comes my way, but my as- run-scorer in the tournament so far,
I can vouch for, is that I have never “I’ve opened up four-five areas pirations and dreams never die. It’s behind Stephen Sean Eskinazi of
valued myself more as a person,” he in my game which are paying rich div- about going out there, improving and Middlesex, who has scored 658 runs
added. idends. I am very happy that the hard ticking all those boxes,” he added. in eight games.

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