‘He always keeps things simple and has great ideas about batting’- Pujara on Dravid

Indian Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara recalls his first meeting with the head coach Rahul Dravid and called him his inspiration.

While talking about the current head coach of the Indian team, Pujara told the BCCI that Dravid always inspired him, and he learned a lot of things from the ex-Indian batter, and he has always been helpful.

"Rahul (Dravid) Bhai has always been an inspiration for me. When I first met him in 2007, he led the India team. He came to Rajkot. That was my first interaction with him as a young kid. After that, I have always been in touch. I have learned so many things from him as a cricketer when I was playing with him and even after he retired and coached India A team, he has always been helpful," Cheteshwar Pujara told BCCI.tv.

Pujara shared the mantra of Rahul Dravid, how he keeps things simple and doesn't complicate things. India's Test specialist further said that it's always good to work with Dravid.

"He always keeps things simple, has great ideas about batting, and doesn't complicate things. It's always good to learn from him, it's always good to work with Rahul Bhai," he added.

Pujara played in England last time when Ravi Shastri was India's head coach and stated that the team's environment has always been good. According to Pujara, if the team manages to win this Test, then it'll be considered as one of the best victories in the history of Indian cricket.

"It's a good environment to be in; even when we played here in 2021 when Ravi (Shastri) Bhai was around, the way the guys played (was fantastic). I am sure guys are eager to do the same thing again, if we can win this match and win the series on English soil, it will be one of the best victories India has had," he added.

Pujara's last century had come way back in January 2019 and thus was dropped from the Indian Test squad against Sri Lanka earlier this year. Pujara was left out of the Test squad after a string of low scores. 

However, Pujara didn't take a lot of time in earning a recall into the Indian team for the rescheduled 5th Test against England.