Father made me Test cricketer, says Cheteshwar Pujara

Rajkot, June 22 (IANS) India Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said his father-cum-coach and ex-Ranji Trophy cricketer Arvind Pujara played a very big and crucial role in making him a Test cricketer.

"He has played a very big and crucial role. Being the only child, my parents loved me so much. I was particularly close to my mother, who always dreamed of seeing me play for India one day," Pujara was quoted as saying by a website on Sunday.

"While my father took care of my cricket, my mother ensured that I became a good human being."

The right-handed Saurashtra batsman said his father's disciplined and strict coaching made him the cricketer he is now. "He was a very meticulous, disciplined and strict coach. He still is, when we discuss the technical side of the game in person or on the phone."

"And when I was a junior cricketer, his approach towards me was no different than his approach towards other trainees. He never hesitated to scold me in front of others if I made a mistake," the 27-year-old said.

When he was selected for his maiden Test against Australia in Bangalore in 2010, his father wanted him to play a big innings in his debut Test.

"He was obviously very happy. He said that our combined efforts have finally been rewarded. He told me that I had to perform well to deserve the honour of playing for India. He wanted me to play a big innings on my Test debut," Pujara said.

Pujara has so far featured in 27 Test matches and five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for India, scoring 2073 and 51 runs, respectively.