Veteran Indian Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara has narrated his journey of arranged marriage with Puja Pabari. The Saurashtra batter revealed that it was not a typical arranged marriage for them and that he got married after his parents asked him to do so at a suitable time.
Pabari and Pujara married one another in 2013 and his wife gave birth to their daughter Aditi on February 22, 2018. It was three years before the right-handed batter got married that he marked his first Test appearance and scored a vital 72 in the second innings against Australia to drive India to victory.
Speaking to Vimal Kumar on his podcast, Pujara revealed:
"Dekhiye meri koi girlfriend nahin thi. Pura focus cricket pe tha aur jab family ne yeh baat propose kari ki this is the right age for you to get married and now you should be looking for a partner toh maine decide kiya ki, 'yes I'll start meeting a suitable person'. Jab hamaari pehli mulaaqat hui, pehli baat jab shuru hui, ek ghanta baat hui, tabhi se aap ek person ko janne aur samajhne lagte hain. You can't call it love at first sight but you get along with a person."
"Kyunki aapko lagta hai kisi ke saath 1 ghanta baat kiya hai toh aap samajh jaate hain, inke saath aur baat karna pasand karenge. Hamaari pehli meeting ke baad she was also sure she wanted to have a word with me. Uske baad hamne baat kari, phone se hum touch mein they, janne ki koshish kari, uske baad humne decide kiya she is the right person."
(I didn't have a girlfriend and my full focus was on cricket. When the family proposed that this is the right age for you to get married and you should be looking for a partner, I decided, 'yes I'll start meeting a suitable person'. When we met for the first time, we talked for an hour and a half. Then you start understanding a person. You can't call it love at first sight but you get along with a person. After our first meeting, she wanted to have a word with me. Then we kept touch via phone, got to know more about each other. Then we decided she is the right person)
"It won't be easy for Shubman" - Cheteshwar Pujara
During a virtual interaction organized by Sony Sports Network recently, Pujara addressed Shubman Gill's appointment as Test captain ahead of England tour by claiming that doing well in the away series will massively boost his confidence. He said, as quoted by India Today:
"When you go abroad as a captain, whether you are young or matured, it will be challenging. To start off in England, it won't be easy for Shubman but it's a great opportunity for a young player. If he leads well in England it will boost his confidence. The reason he has been given the responsibility ahead of Jasprit Bumrah is because we are hearing that Bumrah will not be able to play all five Test matches."
