Have to be ready to take a few blows: Pujara

Marnus Labuschagne wants to "pull off a Pujara".

- Rasesh Mandani

Josh Hazlewood is "pretty happy "Puj" isn't playing". Most of what is being said in the Aussie corner is good old gamesmanship, an indirect message to India that they might miss their immovable batting force over the past three tours Down Under.

Cheteshwar Pujara is not all that fussed about it. He will "miss" not being picked but does not want his replacements to bat like he did. "Test cricket is moving, with the amount of whiteball cricket people play," he said in the "Star Sports press room" ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"I don't think there is a need to slow down the pace of batting in Test cricket. The players today are playing to their strengths," he said. "My batting was based on the cricket that I learned where patience and temperament were quite important. You can't advice today's player to play like me or any other player."

An admission from the last of his tribe who could bat time that the game's texture has changed so dramatically that perhaps, batters can't slow down anymore. What they must do, said Pujara, is pick their scoring shots.