Hyderabad: Cheteshwar Pujara relished batting at number three as he struck his maiden Test hundred on Thursday but said it will not be appropriate to suggest that he can replace a legend such as Rahul Dravid.
Dravid batted superbly at the crucial position of number three for India before retiring early this year.
“I don’t think I can replace Rahul Dravid because he is such a legend. He has more than 10,000 runs in both the formats. It’s impossible to replace him,” Pujara who slammed an unbeaten 119 against New Zealand, said in the post-match press conference here today.
Cheteshwar Pujara dedicated the achievement to his parents.AFP
A modest Pujara, playing his fourth Test, said he had immense experience to play at this position so scoring runs was not difficult.
“I knew I could bat at No 3. So my preparation was up to the mark. I played at No 3 for Saurashtra. At times I opened for my employers Indian Oil Corporation. So I have enough experience batting up the order. I did not have to worry about anything. At domestic level, I batted up the order at No 3 and 4 so it made a difference,” he said.
Pujara said it was very satisfying to get to his maiden century, which he had missed in his debut match when he got out after scoring 72 against Australia in 2010.
“Obviously I am really happy, it was a dream to start off like this. I wanted to score a hundred in my debut game. But somehow I missed it so I am really satisfied that I got my maiden hundred now.”
He dedicated the achievement to his parents and was looking at converting it into a double century on Friday.
“I’m very thankful to him. I would like to dedicate this to my father. He has been working with me since I was a child. I would like to dedicate this to my father and my mother.
“I think the first target is to put on 400 on the board. Individually if I can score a double hundred that would be great, but the initial target would be to score a 400.”
PTI
