Cheteshwar Pujara, over the last couple of years, has perhaps been the best India batsman to adjust in different kinds of conditions when it comes to the game’s traditional format.

“It is always difficult to get used to different pitches when you start. Last year when I was playing the (Ranji Trophy) final, I came from Australia and played in Vidarbha where the ball started turning very early in the game. So it is never easy to adapt to such conditions.

“But the good thing for me here was that this is my home ground. I knew how the pitch could behave. However, at times it was, surprisingly, slightly on the slower side. We have never played on slow pitches here, and this was one of the slowest pitches I have played on,” Pujara told The Telegraph after Saurashtra sealed their first-ever Ranji Trophy crown, here on Friday.

The Test series in New Zealand didn’t turn out to be a good one for Pujara, but his calm and composed 66, braving a sore throat, played a leading role in guiding Saurashtra in this final against a strong Bengal bowling attack.

Although he was unable to field, Pujara did pass on valuable message to his Saurashtra teammates ahead of the final day. “Yesterday (Thursday) I had a chat with the guys, telling them, ‘I want everyone to be fresh and look forward for the final day. Start seeing the bigger picture.”