"This is the best bubble I have been part of..." Pujara ahead of South Africa Tests

SportsTak

Indian middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara believes that team India will be drawing confidence from their recent success in the last two years in Australia and England as they prepare to face South Africa in the three-Test match series away from home.

 

The Test series is scheduled to start on December 26 and Pujara said that the current relaxed bio-bubble is the best bio-bubble he has ever been in. 

 

“This is the best bubble I have been part of where you can just move around freely and get fresh air. That helps when it comes to your mental preparation. You are much more relaxed and in an environment close to nature," Pujara said in a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI).

 

"I feel that we have the best support staff and most of the players have played in South Africa in the past. So it is an experienced side and we know what is expected out of us. When it comes to preparation, all of us are ready," he added.

 

The 33-year old batter said that the current India batting line-up is experienced enough to tackle lateral movement on pace-friendly tracks in South Africa and he has no doubt that the Test team led by Virat Kohli will produce a good show in the Rainbow Nation.

 

"When you are a visiting team, you know that there is pace and bounce and there is lateral movement and to face the fast bowlers is always a big challenge when you go out of India.”

 

"This team has learnt that and this is a much more balanced batting line-up and I think we will be able to tackle that and with our preparation I am very confident we will put up a good show." 

 

India retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy after beating Australia 2-1 in the four-match series early in the year. Virat Kohli's men also secured a 2-1 victory in the five-Test match series in England before the fifth Test was cancelled due to Covid-19.

 

"Having done well in England and Australia will make a big difference in this squad's confidence and self belief that we can win overseas, we can win in any conditions," the Rajkot-born cricketer explained.

 

"And with our bowling and batting line-up, I am very confident that we have the capacity to win a series in South Africa."