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After living out of a suitcase for 45 days during the IPL following a stadium to hotel to airport schedule Cheteshwar Pujara headed to Haridwar for a well-deserved break. With the domestic season months away and the BCCI not allowing contracted player to play the English county circuit, Pujara had plans to be at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore after accompanying his father on a pilgrimage.
But while on train and a few hours away from the tranquility that he hoped to find on the foothills of the Himalayas, Pujara got an SMS that ensured his getaway from cricket was short-lived. "There I was, looking out of the train window far removed from cricket... I came to know I was named the India-A captain for the tour to England," he said on Tuesday. "Suddenly, the mindset changed, as I had got the biggest break of my career."
There were several thoughts that came to his mind, ranging from the complications of leading a side full of promising players, batting in conditions that were said to favour swing bowling and, of course, the realisation that he had got one step closer to the ultimate dream of being part of the senior squad.
While Pujara had repeatedly insisted that he doesn't waste much time thinking about his future, the quantum of runs he scored on the domestic circuit has seen him get that frustrating 'next big batsmen' tag. The irony? He wasn't getting the big break.
With the national selectors not including him in the India team for ODIs and T20 games in Zimbabwe but naming him the skipper for the England tour that starts with three longer-version games, Pujara now knows where he stands. It is clear the 22-year-old, known for his marathon knocks and ground strokes, is considered Test material.
After a couple of days in Haridwar, Pujara headed home to Rajkot with a set plan to deal with the important assignment at hand. "I have to fish out Wasim Jaffer's England number and speak with him. He has played county cricket for years and he has watched my game closely; we played several games in the Mumbai league."
Though Pujara has led several age group sides, being named the skipper of India-A side is a big challenge. But his stint with Kolkata Knight Riders and watching Sourav Ganguly from close quarters gave him an idea about how to be an inspirational leader. "I used to observe Dada casually and the one thing I liked about him was the way he saw the positive in a player that he thought would fit in the team. Others often raised objection about the inclusion of a certain player, but Dada would point to the player's positives. Backing players with conviction makes him a great captain."
After the hills, it is back to the heat and dust of the harsh Rajkot summer for Pujara he can't wait to take guard at the nets and prepare for England. Pujara might be far away from the Himalayas but he knows that in case he plans his trek right, he would finally be on the summit that he has always dreamt of conquering.
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