Pujara unconcerned by squandered starts

Having come in at the fall of an early wicket, Cheteshwar Pujara had done most of the hard things right in the Antigua Test. He had seen off the new ball, achieved a 100% control rate against the opposition's most dangerous bowler, Shannon Gabriel, and gone to lunch unbeaten. Shortly after the break, though, he got himself out, top-edging a pull off legspinner Devendra Bishoo.

With that, his last five scores in Test cricket were 21, 31, 14, 28, and 16. It's the kind of sequence that, on paper, suggests a batsman isn't converting his starts, or is losing his concentration too often, and a not-too-dissimilar sequence - though longer - briefly cost Pujara his Test spot in early 2015. Pujara, though, says he isn't worried about his form. Speaking to the media on Thursday, he pointed out that some of his recent in-between scores were important contributions in a low-scoring home series against South Africa.

"Overall I have been batting well and even in the South Africa series there have been good scores and good batting on challenging wickets," he said. "So at times you have to be realistic and see the contribution without seeing whether I am getting hundreds or big double-hundreds. It's always about contributing to the team's success.

"I feel I am batting well without worrying too much about it and at the same time I realise I played a bad shot in the last Test match when I was looking good. I did the hard work in the first session when the ball was moving. Obviously I played a bad shot and there are things to learn from that particular game. Overall the team did well and I am really happy with the way things are going."

Pujara was one of only four Indian players - the others were Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul and Bhuvneshwar Kumar - who turned up for an optional practice session two days before the second Test against West Indies in Jamaica. He said he wasn't working on anything specific, and that he just liked to take every opportunity to bat at the nets.

"I think I just want to practice a little more since I didn't score runs in the first Test match so I can get some extra hits," he said. "Whenever there is an option to practice, I prefer to practice. It is always about the individual, [whether he] wants to take a break or practice. I am the kind of player who prefers to practice even on an optional day."

There was a healthy covering of grass on the Sabina Park pitch on Thursday, but Pujara said it wouldn't affect the team's plans, or change their preparation, all that much.

"I don't think so," he said "If we see the first Test, there was good pace and bounce from the wicket, and we did well. We just need to continue doing what we have been doing well and there have been many partnerships from the last game. In particular, [R] Ashwin batted well and [Amit] Mishra did well; the top order is doing well and there are contributions from the lower order which is a positive sign from the team."

Pujara said his role in the side remained just the same under new head coach Anil Kumble.

"Things remain very simple," he said. "I always have to contribute and play with responsibility. And I have been doing that and keep working hard on my game as I have been. And I don't think I need to really worry much about the kind of performances I have put on or what everyone is saying.

"I have spoken to [Kumble], he told me about a few things which obviously I cannot disclose here. He has been very positive with the way I have batted in the past and contributions I have made. And he is very happy with the way I have been batting."