Just ahead of the pink-ball Test between India and Australia on December 6, Cheteshwar Pujara has recalled the team’s 36 all out in the opening Test in the previous Test series Down Under. He said that the players needed two days to bounce back and return to the net session for the next Test.
India were 53 runs ahead on the basis of the first innings in the day-night Test. However, the visitors were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test total of 36 runs in 21.2 overs in the second innings. Australia completed the chase of 90 runs easily with eight wickets in hand.
“The players needed 24 to 48 overs to come out of the shock. But the good part was that a team dinner was organized where we didn’t speak about cricket. We had fun amd we were together and had a good time. And then we started our training for the next match and that’s when we started talking about cricket,” he said ESPNcricinfo.
“The time together was important because when you lose a match like that, the players go in a shell and starts playing blame game and are surrounded by negative thoughts. We never discussed about cricket, we never spoke about what went wrong and while lies ahead during our team dinner. We lived in the present and enjoyed that moment and had a great night together before switching ourselves on,” he added.
Pujara stressed that a win in Melbourne restored the belief in the team.
“We won the next game in Melbourne and the series was levelled. That is when we started believing that we have a genuine chance of winning the series.”
India clinched the series 2-1 to lift the trophy for the second consecutive time.
