'I knew That If I Can...': Cheteshwar Pujara Reveals Reason Behind Taking Body Blows During 2020/21 Gabba Test

Cheteshwar Pujara in a recent interview recalled about recently getting hit on the body and toughing it up in Brisbane during India's 2020/21 tour of Australia. Pujara's wife revealed about how he kept his hairline injury a secret and tried to avoid scans because he did not want o end up sitting in crucial match.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Pujara revealed, "Back to the second Test, when I had some injury in my index finger. I felt that even if I had a hairline fracture, there's nothing I can do about it. The only thing I can do is to protect my finger and carry on playing, because even if there was a fracture, I didn't have the room to miss out on an important series. Only the captain and the physio knew about my injury."

Pujara on taking body blows during Gabba test

He added," There were a lot of body blows, but I was aware that the series was on the line. And I knew that if I can handle those body blows, at least for the first and second sessions, then our time will come.I had to not think about the blows and then just try and be in the present, just try and face each ball. But that was a tricky pitch. The blows were because of the pitch. I felt if I was playing on another surface, I could have left a few balls, but that was a pitch where, from back of a length, the balls were rising a bit more. I couldn't judge the bounce of that pitch."

"And it was the fifth day. I knew that the conditions will improve once the ball gets a little older. My strategy was to not try and play those balls because those were the rising deliveries. If you end up playing those balls, you will get out. So I was sure that I didn't want to play those deliveries. And my strategy was very simple: I'll take it on my body and there'll be a time where I'll be able to attack and play my natural game."

India breach Gabba fotress

For 32 years, Team Australia had been the unbeaten champion at 'Fortress Gabba' in Brisbane. And as the Border-Gavaskar series progressed, a battle-scarred Team India seemed unlikely to overcome the hosts. However, all that changed on January 19, 2021.

Broken bones and injuries galore failed to stop a determined Indian team, as youngsters stepped up and showed a never-seen-before zeal to retain the coveted Border-Gavaskar trophy with a historic three-wicket win over Australia in the fourth and final Test. They successfully chased the 328-run target to seal the four-match series 2-1, ending Australia's winning streak at The Gabba.