Cheteshwar Pujara, the seasoned Indian batter, is set to continue his build-up to the ICC World Test Championship final in June by playing alongside Australian counterpart Steve Smith for English county side Sussex. The veteran said that the star Australian cricketer is a great influence to have in the team and that players are looking forward to learning from him.
Pujara has been in fine form for Sussex already this season, scoring two centuries from three matches to become the leading run-scorer in the second tier of England's County Championship. Sussex will now have the luxury of Smith joining the side for three matches before the World Test Championship final.
Pujara plans to pick the brains of the experienced Australian during his stint as captain of Sussex. "He (Smith) is a great influence to have in the team and the guys will be looking forward to having him in the dressing room and will try and have a chat to him and learn from him, just to see how he prepares as he has a lot of experience," Pujara told Sussex Cricket.
"We are all looking forward to having him here and sharing his experience as he has a lot of knowledge about the game and it will be nice to have his input," he added.
Pujara, who managed scores of just 8 and 15 during India's loss to New Zealand at the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021, will be keen to improve on those efforts in the one-off Test against Australia at The Oval from June 7.
The India No.3 feels like he is currently in good touch, and his most recent century - a patient knock of 151 against Gloucestershire - was his best of the County season thus far.
"We will be playing in the WTC final (against each other), so it will be a mixed feeling. On the field we always have good battles, but off the field, we are good friends," Pujara said.