After helping Saurashtra win their maiden Ranji Trophy title last month, little did he know that he would be spending all his time at home. Pujara is enjoying the 'forced' break and most of his time goes into entertaining his two-year-old daughter.
Pujara has so far scored 521 runs in seven innings with three hundreds at an impressive average of 74.42.
Mumbai held a slight edge reducing Madhya Pradesh to 197 for five in their Ranji Trophy cricket semi-final after being bowled out for 371 in their first innings, in Cuttack, on Sunday.
Cheteshwar Pujara was the highest-placed Indian batsman, climbing a rung to the sixth position, while Pragyan Ojha broke into the top-10 among bowlers after gaining one spot to be 10th in the latest ICC Test rankings issued on Monday.
Cheteshwar Pujara continued good start to his Test career, scoring a double century against England on day two of the first Test in Ahmedabad, on Friday.
Middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara of Saurashtra and in-form Delhi opener Shikhar Dhawan were included in the Mumbai 'A' squad to play against England team in the visitors' second warm-up game at the D Y Patil Stadium here from November 3-5.
Cheteshwar Pujara was India's most consistent batsmen in the Test version in 2013, while Virat Kohli continued his scoring spree in ODIs. A look at the top performers in Tests and ODIs in 2013.
Pujara has been criticised for his ultra-defensive approach in the series so far and instead of propping up his team's response to Australia's first innings total
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin are the two Indian short-listed for top honours at the LG ICC Awards 2013. The duo are among the six nominated for the 'ICC Test Cricketer of the Year'. Who has the better chance? Tell us!
India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara says they are confident of claiming a historic first Test series win in South Africa, led by their potent fast bowling attack on the lively Highveld wickets where the first two of three Tests will be played.
With his tight technique and a cool temperament, Cheteshwar Pujara has an assuring presence at the crease, former captain Sunil Gavaskar said in praise of the young batsman, who rescued India with his century.
Cheteshwar Pujara warmed up in style for the upcoming two-Test series against West Indies with a fluent century in the warm-up match against West Indies Cricket Board President XI.
The overnight batsmen each survived a review to power India to 435 for six at lunch in response to Australia's 451 after a wicketless session played out under an overcast sky.
'I knew that I had to stay patient and wait for the loose balls but the way they bowled, they bowled in the right areas'
Cheteshwar Pujara took a giant stride towards Test breakthrough as he led India 'A' to a thrilling two-wicket win with an unbeaten 96-run knock on the fourth and final day of the first unofficial cricket Test against the West Indies 'A' in Bridgetown.
Cheteshwar Pujara registered his maiden double hundred as India declared their first innings on 521 for 8 on Day 2 of the first Test against England, at Motera, on Friday. The 24-yar-old Rajkot-born batsman was unbeaten on 206, having batted for a marathon eight hours. Rajneesh Gupta lists the batsmen who have the most runs in their first Test against England.
Cheteshwar Pujara said that although England bowled a "negative" line during his partnership with skipper Virat Kohli, his team showed a lot of character and would be looking to take 75-100 runs lead in the first innings of the third Test in Mohali.
India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara says runs in Duleep Trophy have given him a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the Test series against New Zealand starting on Thursday in Kanpur.
Cheteshwar Pujara marked his comeback with a gritty unbeaten century as India recovered from an early slump to reach a decent 292-8 in their first innings of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
India's biggest problem on the ongoing tour of England, says Harish Kotian, is the poor run of Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara on Thursday admitted that playing day-night Tests is an altogether different challenge for the batsman as the pace and visibility of the pink ball is very different from the traditional red ball.
Skipper Cheteshwar Pujara struck his second unbeaten century in as many days while Praveen Kumar blasted his way to a 26-ball 53 as India 'B' posted a 21-run win over Bengal to set up a title clash with India 'A' in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy in Rajkot on Monday.
Cheteshwar Pujara's brilliant century (148) rescued Saurashtra, as the the Ranji Trophy Super League Group A match against Delhi ended in a tame draw in Delhi on Sunday. Delhi shares the top slot in Group A with Mumbai on eight points from two matches.
A US-based sports website has placed India's prolific batsman Cheteshwar Pujara in its latest list of potentially good top ten investment options in sports, putting the Saurashtra player alongside the likes of Brazilian soccer star Neymar and Formula One ace Sebastian Vettel.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli combined to frustrate Australia for an entire session as India held the whip-hand at 215 for two at the close of a grinding opening day of the third Test in Melbourne on Wednesday.
He is expected to play a major role during next year's tour of South Africa and Cheteshwar Pujara is confident that the upcoming Sri Lanka series will give him a 'good opportunity' to prepare for the tough assignment ahead.
Ignored by all eight franchsies during the auctions for the eighth season of IPL, India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara will make use of that time by representing Yorkshire in the upcoming English county season.
'It's the communication, both of us have been playing Test cricket for a long time. Especially me and him -- we are playing (only) this format particularly and we have spent a lot time not just on field by talking about this format' 'To be very honest I was hoping to get a double hundred. They had so many runs on board. I thought it will help the team if I could get a double hundred'
Skipper Cheteshwar Pujara's well-made 73 went in vain as India A succumbed to a five-wicket defeat against England Lions in the Triangular series at Grace Road, Leicester.
Pujara's slowest Test half-century, a painstaking 50 off 176 balls handed Australia control of the match in which they now have overall lead of 197 runs.
'This is an experienced side and we know what is expected of our team.' 'When it comes to preparation, all of us are ready.'
Known for his sound technique and insatiable appetite for runs, Cheteshwar Pujara believes he has what it takes to succeed Rahul Dravid at the crucial number three position in India's Test side and says comparison with his childhood idol acts as a "morale-booster".
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting found India's slow batting baffling in the third Test and feels that Cheteshwar Pujara's 106 off 319 balls may end up being the reason for their defeat.
India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara has raised a concerns like "picking the googly", "spotting the seam" while batting against the pink ball under lights during the Duleep Trophy game between India Blue and India Green.
Gill, Rahul, Pant and the irrepressible Yashasvi Jaiswal will now have a chance to script the next glorious chapter in Indian cricket.
Cheteshwar Pujara's ability to absorb pressure makes it easier for the other batsmen to play their natural game.
It is now-or-never for the now senior-most superstar batter to produce an all-timer series that justifies his talent.
"During the county stint, I got to spend time with English players Stuart Broad and Samit Patel (who both play for Nottinghamshire) and former England coach Peter Moores.
'I think if you asked us at the start of the day if we'd take losing the toss and India being 9 for 250 at stumps, I think we'd bite your arm off'
Pujara scored an unbeaten 130 as India finished day one at 303 for four.
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