When Indian cricketers and world’s most top-class cricketers will be busy to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) in this April, another Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara will be busy to raise his batting quality through the English county cricket for Yorkshire.

In the 2018 IPL Auction, Pujara had been not selected by any franchises. After that auction, Pujara signed a deal with Yorkshire, where he had featured in 2015 county season.

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After the IPL 2018, India will travel to England for full bilateral series. India will play 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs and 5 Tests on this tour, while Cheteshwar Pujara is expected to feature in the Test series as an important batsman. So, the county season can be a big help for Pujara to achieve the success in that Test series.

During an exclusive interview, Pujara told to PTI, “I am looking forward to the county season as we will be playing Test matches in August. I was with Yorkshire in 2015 when we won the County Championship. It’s a fantastic team with good bunch of professionals, which helps me become a better cricketer.”

Pujara believes that the county season will benefit him for India’s upcoming tour in England. The right-handed top order batsman said, “Look, playing at Headingley in early English summer with temperatures around 4 or 6 degrees will test any batsmen’s technique and temperament. Even scoring a 50 is tough. By the time, India tour starts, it will be bit more pleasant.”

Pujara further added, “Now playing Division 1 has its advantages. I will be playing against Middlesex (Lord’s), Warwickshire (Birmingham) and Surrey (Oval) in away games, where India will play Test matches. So I will get a fair idea about the pitches and conditions.”

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Talking about the batting techniques for the different conditions, Pujara spoke out, “The basics will remain the same but the primary criteria of doing well is respecting conditions. Technically, it’s more or less same. I use lighter bats when playing overseas. Also, the kind of fight we put in South Africa will augur well for us in England. Maybe we could have batted a bit better but we were in with a chance in all games.”

Pujara also mentioned that all the top teams are struggling in the overseas conditions. The Yorkshire batsman said on this, “England’s performance in Ashes will tell you that all top teams are struggling a fair bit in overseas conditions.”

Pujara also said that Indian team is not taking lightly to any English bowlers including their spinner Moeen Ali. Pujara said, “Obviously we will be better prepared but that doesn’t mean we can take Moeen or any other English bowler lightly. The best part is we have a fair idea about their core bowling unit.”

Pujara also expressed his views on South African batsmen’s continuously struggling performances against the Indian spin-duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. The 30-year old said, “It will be difficult if you can’t pick up the variation from wrists. If you can’t differentiate Chahal’s googly from his flippers, then there’s trouble. You have to have an understanding which way the ball would turn.”