Latest news with #Cheteshwar
Pink Villa
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
How did Cheteshwar Pujara meet his soulmate Puja Pabari? All about the journey of a cricketer's wife
When Puja Pabari first sat down with Arvind Pujara, Cheteshwar's father, she assumed the meeting was nothing more than family formality. In an ESPNcricinfo interview with Grace Hayden, they couple revealed that their courtship began not with grand gestures but with a candid conversation and mutual curiosity. Within ninety minutes, 'it felt like we were just two good friends,' Puja recalls in the interview. Over the following six weeks, daily calls cemented a relationship neither had anticipated. Today, as they approach their thirteenth wedding anniversary, Puja's debut book lays bare every milestone: from engagement whispers in Mumbai to sleepless nights in Australia's Covid bubble. How did the Pujaras' meet? Puja didn't recognize Cheteshwar's name when her parents arranged the match in autumn 2012. She met his father, Arvind Pujara, first as Cheteshwar was out for a match. She had initially theorized that he was 'not interested' because of this. When she later met the cricketer, her thoughts changed as she found the conversation 'candid, honest' and free of any checklist. Cheteshwar, who had been touring, welcomed Puja's fresh perspective. 'I wanted to marry someone for who she is rather than the fame I have,' he told Grace Hayden. After an hour-and-a-half chat, they committed to getting to know each other over the next month and a half. Their engagement followed on November 6, 2012; marriage on February 13, 2013, when she took up the surname Pujara. Cheteshwar and Puja found strength in adversity As Pujara's Test career climbed, Puja's role evolved beyond spectator. During the lows of 2014, when Cheteshwar was under pressure and scrutiny, she studied nutrition to help improve his fitness and offered steady emotional support—never overstepping, but always present. She said she knew she had to 'just be there for him the way he needs me to be.' In early 2018, when their daughter Aditi was ten months old and Cheteshwar faced a family medical emergency mid-series in Australia: his father needed to get an ablation procedure done. Puja balanced hospital visits with match updates—all while nurturing a newborn. Meanwhile, Cheteshwar had not been told about the matter until the test started. He states, 'I didn't know anything about my father's health. I only got to know on the second day of the Sydney Test.' He found himself under a lot of pressure, wondering if he should return: 'Do I need to travel back? But she assured me that she was in charge. She knew what she was doing.' His faith in her abilities allowed him to score over a century during the Sydney Test. Later, during the pandemic-bound 2020-21 tour, Puja also endured marathon days watching him absorb relentless bouncers at the Gabba Test, 'sweating and shivering' through every session, yet trusted him to focus on his job. Behind the scenes of the book Puja has been journaling since 2013 and granted her husband full editorial freedom. Cheteshwar admits he felt 'nervous' opening the manuscript, but reading her accounts of their arranged-marriage genesis and shared trials moved him deeply. In the author's note of the book The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife: A Very Unusual Memoir, she writes: 'If a smile can do a job, he prefers not to speak. Secretive, yet with nothing to hide…He does not know how to relax, but is always at peace.' The book unveils what the Pujara's partnership grew into what it is today, and how it's been defined by quiet loyalty.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Puja Pujara writes a memoir about life as the wife of Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara
Memoirs by India's star cricketers vividly documenting their roller-coaster journeys are not all that common. Rarer still is the perspective of their female partners, often described collectively as WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends), about their lives. Whenever the Indian team is in action, prying television cameras zoom in on their faces at various critical junctures — it could range from a player reaching a milestone to being dismissed for a first-ball duck — to seek their emotional and spontaneous reactions. But beyond these fleeting moments of unsolicited attention, what is it really like to be with someone whose job entails meeting the sky-high expectations of a populace that treats its cricketers like demigods? What is it like to partake in the dizzying highs and debilitating lows that their superstar partners go through from game to game? How do they feel when they have to inexplicably face the wrath of the wider world for their husbands going through a bad patch? Puja Pujara, the wife of former India Test No. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, has candidly chronicled her experiences in a new book titled The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife (published byHarperCollins India) The idea of Puja penning down this book, aptly carrying the tag line of 'A Very Unusual Memoir', was proposed by her reticent partner a few days after the 2023 World Test Championship final that India lost to Australia. In the aftermath of the defeat, Cheteshwar, who was 35, had received an unpleasant call from the chief selector informing him that he was not in India's plans moving forward. Even as the man from Rajkot, who combined a sturdy technique with copious patience to accumulate 7,195 runs in 103 Tests, took the conversation on the chin, Puja was seething with anger about her husband being hard done by. It was a feeling, as Puja writes in the book, that had festered in her for a long time. It even prompted Puja to broach the topic of retirement with Cheteshwar. His response, Puja mentions in the book, was calmness personified. 'According to me, my body and mind, my reflexes are at their peak. I am at peace, whether I'm selected or not selected. I don't think one game can define anyone's form. Besides, I'm happy to play the game whenever or wherever I get the opportunity, because it is something I love,' he is quoted as saying in the 318-page offering. Almost two years have passed since Cheteshwar's illustrious Test career came to a halt. Recounting it now, Puja, seated alongside her husband in a virtual interaction, said: 'It was tough at the time. I have been very honest about my feelings. It hurt me a lot, and it took some amount of time to recover. But he just advised me that we cannot do anything about things that are not in our hands. Everybody wants that high. Every once in a while, I still feel a little disappointed.' For the outside world, these players lead vastly luxurious lives: travelling around the world, staying in plush hotels and enjoying all the other perks that come with being an Indian cricketer. All of this may be accurate, but it should not subvert the sacrifices of their family members that aid them in reaching the pinnacle of their profession. Cheteshwar is hopeful that a book like this will evoke a bit more understanding and empathy among the fans about their lives. 'Definitely I think it will,' he said. 'Every cricketer has their own journey. But at the same time when we are talking about privacy or the kind of sacrifices the family makes for a cricketer, that is most of the time common. I don't think any player is successful without the family's support.' For example, there is a passage in the book about Cheteshwar's father, Arvind, suffering tachycardia — a condition where the heart beats faster than usual — at home in Rajkot at 2.30 am ahead of India's second Test of a four-match series in Australia in 2018-19. With Puja not having travelled Down Under, she was able to rush her father-in-law to a hospital without keeping Cheteshwar in the loop about the incident. Even as doctors recommended a heart ablation procedure for the senior Pujara in Mumbai, she waited for that Test in Perth to finish before relaying the news to Cheteshwar. That he took it all in his stride with two Tests still left and guided India to a series win in Australia for the first time — he finished as the highest run-getter — are a testament to his character. Over his 13-year Test career, Cheteshwar forged many significant partnerships with his teammates. By the end of the book, it is apparent that his enduring off-field partnership with Puja has been just as significant. Priced at ₹425, the book is available on
NDTV
30-04-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"The Guy You're Praising Wanted Me Dropped": Cheteshwar Pujara's Wife Makes Staggering Revelation
Highlights Cheteshwar Pujara's wife made a groundbreaking revelation in her book. Pujara last played for India in 2023 amid uncertainty over his selection. In the book, Pujara's wife revealed that a Team India member wanted him dropped. One of the most dependable Test cricketers India has produced, Cheteshwar Pujara, is a man of a few words but impeccable character. Over the years in his international cricketing career, Pujara earned many draws for India and played a crucial role in several victories. But the batter is no longer a part of India's team in any of the three formats. Pujara, who last played for India in 2023, has often produced fine knocks, making selectors contemplate his return. But his fortunes have still not changed. Pujara's wife, Puja, in her book 'The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife', has made some staggering revelations about the batter's cricketing career. In the book, she even narrated how Pujara once overheard a conversation about him being dropped from the team during the 2018-19 Australia tour. The episode took place while Pujara wasn't enjoying the best of form, having aggregated just 28 runs in the Perth Test. As India went on to lose the match, with Pujara also trying to manage a light hamstring injury, calls were apparently being made to drop him. The incident took place while Pujara's father was admitted to a hospital back home. "Cheteshwar made the most of his three-day break and did not step out of his room much. He alternated between resting his afflicted limb and getting his strained hamstring treated. On the lone occasion when he did, he overheard someone engaged in an intense conversation on the telephone, stating that he did not want my husband to play in the coming match because he was unfit. It was an unpleasant incident. But Cheteshwar gave no sign that he had accidentally become privy to the said exchange. Neither did he tell anyone about Papa's medical condition," Puja wrote in her book. "I only learnt of the incident accidentally on Cheteshwar's birthday after the tour was over. It was around half-past-two in the afternoon, the lights were off and the room was quite dark. Aditi was napping and Cheteshwar and I were reclining on our bed as I scrolled through our social media pages reading out birthday greetings. One message posted on Instagram was particularly effusive and touching. I read it out aloud to Cheteshwar, remarking, 'Such a sweet gesture-what a lovely message!' There was complete silence. He did not say a word. Puzzled, I looked up from my phone and caught a most peculiar expression on Cheteshwar's face-one that was simultaneously secretive and pitying. I had no trouble translating his mind - it was his vintage you're so naive-and-trusting look I had seen it before and was therefore quite familiar with it," she revealed. A simplistic man with humble character, Pujara eventually decided to bare it all in front of his wife, but not before being persuaded extensively to do so. 'What's wrong,' I asked. 'Nothing,' he said, at his taciturn best. But I was not buying it. I knew quite well that when Cheteshwar went completely quiet, it usually meant he was concealing something. It was a frequent occurrence. I usually learnt of on-field gossip and politics from other players' wives, never from him. Throughout my marriage, Cheteshwar's description of his various trips had been limited to three unvarying sentences: 'We had practice, a team meeting and then I returned to the room.' Day in and day out, year after year, I had been treated to the same standard lines. He was ready to talk about everything but his professional life. There were times when I would wonder if he even knew what was happening in the world around him. "But in this instance, I was not about to let him clam up on me. He tried to fend me off, but I finally wore him down. 'This guy you're praising,' commented Cheteshwar laconically, 'wanted me to be dropped from the team because of fitness issues.' I gaped at him. 'Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why did you go through it alone?' 'Such things happen,' he shrugged, 'and not everything deserves a reaction. I played and played well and that's what matters. You don't need to dwell too much on the incident. But it's important that you learn not to trust everything that takes place on social media'," she wrote. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'Wanted me dropped': Cheteshwar Pujara overheard omission talks amid injury and father's emergency, says wife
Cheteshwar Pujara and his wife Puja Cheteshwar Pujara 's wife, Puja Pujara , has revealed in her book 'The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife' that her husband overheard discussions about dropping him from the Melbourne Test during India's 2018-19 tour of Australia, despite his strong performance in the series opener and dealing with both a hamstring injury and his father's medical emergency. Pujara had started the series strongly with a century and half-century in Adelaide, helping India take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. However, he developed a hamstring injury before the second Test in Perth. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! During this period, Pujara's father, Arvind, suffered a fall and needed immediate hospitalization, requiring an emergency heart procedure. Despite these personal challenges, Pujara kept his father's condition private from the team. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The Perth Test proved difficult for Pujara, who managed only 28 runs across both innings as India lost by 146 runs. The period between the second and third Tests was particularly challenging for him. Puja revealed that while resting his injured hamstring, Pujara accidentally overheard a conversation about his potential exclusion from the team. "Cheteshwar made the most of his three-day break and did not step out of his room much. He alternated between resting his afflicted limb and getting his strained hamstring treated. On the lone occasion when he did, he overheard someone engaged in an intense conversation on the telephone, stating that he did not want my husband to play in the coming match because he was unfit. It was an unpleasant incident. But Cheteshwar gave no sign that he had accidentally become privy to the said exchange. Neither did he tell anyone about Papa's medical condition," Puja wrote in her book. The incident only came to light much later during a conversation about birthday wishes on social media. "I only learnt of the incident accidentally on Cheteshwar's birthday after the tour was over. It was around half-past-two in the afternoon, the lights were off and the room was quite dark. Aditi was napping and Cheteshwar and I were reclining on our bed as I scrolled through our social media pages reading out birthday greetings. One message posted on Instagram was particularly effusive and touching. I read it out aloud to Cheteshwar, remarking, 'Such a sweet gesture—what a lovely message!' There was complete silence. He did not say a word. Puzzled, I looked up from my phone and caught a most peculiar expression on Cheteshwar's face—one that was simultaneously secretive and pitying. I had no trouble translating his mind — it was his vintage you're-so-naïve-and-trusting look I had seen it before and was therefore quite familiar with it." A Father's Pride: How RR, Dravid & Vikram Shaped Vaibhav Suryavanshi Puja persisted in questioning her husband about his reaction, leading to a revealing conversation. "What's wrong,' I asked. 'Nothing,' he said, at his taciturn best. But I was not buying it. I knew quite well that when Cheteshwar went completely quiet, it usually meant he was concealing something. It was a frequent occurrence. I usually learnt of on-field gossip and politics from other players' wives, never from him. Throughout my marriage, Cheteshwar's description of his various trips had been limited to three unvarying sentences: 'We had practice, a team meeting and then I returned to the room.' Day in and day out, year after year, I had been treated to the same standard lines. He was ready to talk about everything but his professional life. There were times when I would wonder if he even knew what was happening in the world around him." Finally, Pujara revealed the truth about the social media message. "'This guy you're praising,' commented Cheteshwar laconically, 'wanted me to be dropped from the team because of fitness issues.' I gaped at him. 'Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why did you go through it alone?' 'Such things happen,' he shrugged, 'and not everything deserves a reaction. I played and played well and that's what matters. You don't need to dwell too much on the incident. But it's important that you learn not to trust everything that takes place on social media.'" Despite these challenges, Pujara went on to be named Player of the Series as India secured their first away Test series victory on Australian soil.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Cheteshwar Pujara overheard intense phone call to have him dropped in Australia: 'He did not want me in India XI'
Cheteshwar Pujara was no stranger to being a casualty in the Indian XI despite being one of its finest Test batters in the last decade and a half. Sometimes for strike rate in the West Indies, sometimes after a few low scores in England, Pujara has always bore the brunt. But Pujara really got shaken when the chatter about dropping him during the 2018-19 Australia tour came to the fore. A man of few words, Pujara, when persuaded by his wife, Puja, could not hold back. The veteran batter, narrated how he overheard talks of dropping him from the Melbourne Test. Puja Pujara revealed the details in her book, 'The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife'. Puja wrote that her husband, who had scored a century and a half-century in the first Test in Adelaide to help India take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series, was struggling with a hamstring injury before the second Test in Perth. That was also the time when Pujara's father, Arvind, suddenly fell and required hospitalisation as soon as possible. Without revealing details of his father's medical condition, Puja stood by her husband, who did not have the best of times in Perth, managing just 28 runs in both innings. India lost the Test by 146 runs. It was between the second and the third Test that Pujara had a hard time. He was trying his best not to let the hamstring hamper his batting while his wife, Puja, was taking care of his father, who required an emergency heart procedure. Amid all this, Pujara overheard a telephonic conversation, where the main topic of discussion was his position in the XI for the Melbourne Test. "Cheteshwar made the most of his three-day break and did not step out of his room much. He alternated between resting his afflicted limb and getting his strained hamstring treated. On the lone occasion when he did, he overheard someone engaged in an intense conversation on the telephone, stating that he did not want my husband to play in the coming match because he was unfit. It was an unpleasant incident. But Cheteshwar gave no sign that he had accidentally become privy to the said exchange. Neither did he tell anyone about Papa's medical condition," Puja wrote in her book. She further revealed that Pujara told her about the incident much later when they were discussing social media wishes on his birthday. "I only learnt of the incident accidentally on Cheteshwar's birthday after the tour was over. It was around half-past-two in the afternoon, the lights were off and the room was quite dark. Aditi was napping and Cheteshwar and I were reclining on our bed as I scrolled through our social media pages reading out birthday greetings. One message posted on Instagram was particularly effusive and touching. I read it out aloud to Cheteshwar, remarking, 'Such a sweet gesture—what a lovely message!' There was complete silence. He did not say a word. Puzzled, I looked up from my phone and caught a most peculiar expression on Cheteshwar's face—one that was simultaneously secretive and pitying. I had no trouble translating his mind — it was his vintage you're-so-naïve-and-trusting look I had seen it before and was therefore quite familiar with it. 'What's wrong,' I asked. 'Nothing,' he said, at his taciturn best. But I was not buying it. I knew quite well that when Cheteshwar went completely quiet, it usually meant he was concealing something. It was a frequent occurrence. I usually learnt of on-field gossip and politics from other players' wives, never from him. Throughout my marriage, Cheteshwar's description of his various trips had been limited to three unvarying sentences: 'We had practice, a team meeting and then I returned to the room.' Day in and day out, year after year, I had been treated to the same standard lines. He was ready to talk about everything but his professional life. There were times when I would wonder if he even knew what was happening in the world around him. "But in this instance, I was not about to let him clam up on me. He tried to fend me off, but I finally wore him down. 'This guy you're praising,' commented Cheteshwar laconically, 'wanted me to be dropped from the team because of fitness issues.' I gaped at him. 'Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why did you go through it alone?' 'Such things happen,' he shrugged, 'and not everything deserves a reaction. I played and played well and that's what matters. You don't need to dwell too much on the incident. But it's important that you learn not to trust everything that takes place on social media'," she wrote. Pujara ended up as the Player of the Series, which India won to make the first away Test series victory on Australian soil.
