Cheteshwar Pujara Is ‘Dreaming To Win’ WTC Final For India

February 16, 2023

Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara is set to achieve a massive milestone in his career after playing in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Delhi. The Second Test which is starting on Friday, February 17, will be his 100th Test match for India.

Cheteshwar Pujara wants to win WTC Final

Ahead of the second Test against Australia, Pujara said he never thought that he would manage to play 100 Test matches. He also said that he always tries to think about being in the present and never thinks too far.

“When I started playing cricket and then made my (Test) debut, I never thought about playing hundred Test matches. For me, it is always about being in the present and not thinking too far ahead. So, for me, I thought before this series started and that’s when I realized that I will be playing my hundredth Test match. In a career, you always go through ups and downs, and you have to fight through those periods,” Pujara said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday as quoted by NDTV.

Winning the second Test will also help India to come closer to qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final slated to be played in June. Pujara said that they will try to win the upcoming games and qualify for the WTC final. He also added that he always dreamt of winning a WTC final for India.

“There is a lot more to achieve. I am definitely satisfied and really excited to play this hundredth Test match. But at the same time, we are playing an important series. So, hopefully, we win this Test match and move on to win another Test match which will ensure we will qualify for the WTC final. My dream is to win a WTC final for the Indian team, which didn’t happen in the last final. But hopefully, once we qualify, we move towards that,” he said.

Pujara made his Test debut in India’s home series against Australia in 2010. The right-handed top-order batter made a breakthrough in the longest format after scoring his first International Test century against New Zealand in 2012. He has made 19 centuries in international cricket, all in Test cricket.